Image forming apparatus, control method thereof, image forming method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

It is intended to obtain outputs of insert sheets suitable for an inserter without delay. Thus, it is controlled to sort sheets on which pages of an image, being the print object in a mode to output the sheets to be set to an inserter provided in another apparatus having such the inserter, of first type in a series of images having plural pages were formed respectively, on the basis of information based on the inserter provided in the another apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus whichoutputs an insert sheet to be set to an inserter, the control methodthereof, an image forming method which outputs an insert sheet to be setto the inserter, and a storage medium which stores a program to executethe image forming method.

2. Related Background Art

Recently, an image forming apparatus which comprises an inserter isbeing proposed. The inserter is the device on which a cover, an insertsheet, a sheet on which a color image was formed, or the like is set asthe insert sheet and which inserts the set insert sheet betweenarbitrary successive sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus.By such a process of the inserter, a sheaf of sheets in which the insertsheet has been inserted between the arbitrary successive sheets can beobtained.

However, in a case where an original having an image corresponding tothe insert sheet is selected from plural originals and the image of theselected original is formed on the insert sheet by the image formingapparatus, the working to select the original of the corresponding imagefrom the plural originals is first necessary. Further, the working topermute the selected original to come to be in the order of setting itto the inserter is necessary, or the working to permute the insert sheetdischarged from the image forming apparatus is necessary. As a result,it takes time very much for obtaining the output form of the insertsheet suitable for the inserter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus which solved the abovementioned conventional problem, thecontrol method thereof, an image forming method which solved such theproblem, and a storage medium which stores a program to execute theimage forming method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus which can obtain an output of an insert sheet suitable for aninserter without a time, the control method thereof, an image formingmethod which can obtain an output of an insert sheet suitable for theinserter without a time, and a storage medium which stores a program toexecute the image forming method.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire structure of an imageforming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the image signalcontrol unit provided in the reading unit of the image forming apparatusshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control structure of the imageforming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the outer structure of the operation unitshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayedon the LCD (liquid crystal display) of the operation unit shown in FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a procedure of an insert output mode inthe copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the outer structure of the operation unit inan image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sheet discharge mode selection screen inan insert output mode displayed on the operation unit shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a procedure of the insert output mode inthe image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are diagrams showing an example of sheetdischarge based on the insert output mode in the image forming apparatusaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the F/S modediscrimination process in the step S88 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the F/S modediscrimination process in the insert output mode in the image formingapparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the F/S modediscrimination process in the insert output mode in the image formingapparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C are diagrams showing an example that a head markis affixed or appended in the insert output mode in the image formingapparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams showing an example of the problem as tosheet discharge form;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of sheet discharge form in theimage formation apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing the printing operation in the S mode inthe step S254 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing the printing operation in the F mode inthe step S255 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the printing operation in the F mode inthe step S258 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the printing operation in the F mode inthe step S258 of FIG. 30;

FIGS. 35A, 35B and 35C are diagrams showing an example that a head markis affixed in the insert output mode in the image forming apparatusaccording to the ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the image forming apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 38A, 38B and 38C are diagrams for explaining a series of workingsteps, including user's intervention working, to obtain output of asheaf of originals in which color and B/w (black-and-white) originalsare mixed, the working steps including a step to output a sheet as aninsert sheet in the insert output mode and an insert process using thesheet output as the insert sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to the attached drawings.

[First Embodiment]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire structure of an imageforming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention,and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the image signalcontrol unit provided in the reading unit of the image forming apparatusshown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, a copying machine acting asthe image forming apparatus will be explained by way of example.

As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine (or an image forming apparatus)1000 is composed of a reading unit 101 on which an automatic documentfeeder (ADF) 51 is installed, an image forming unit 102, and a sheetprocessing unit 103.

The ADF 51 feeds and carries an original p put on an original stackingtray 50 to the reading position on a original mounting board glass 78,and then carries the original p to the sheet discharge position. In thisADF 51, an original discrimination sensor (not shown) for discriminatingwhether the original p is a color original or a B/W (black-and-white)original is disposed. The original discrimination sensor which isarranged on the way of the carrying path extending from the originalstacking tray 50 to the reading position on the original mounting boardglass 78 discriminates the original p when it passes the readingposition. Further, the reading unit 101 is composed of a lamp 79 whichirradiates the original p carried up to the reading position, andreflection mirrors 72, 73 and 74 which guide reflection light from theoriginal p to a lens 75. The lens 75 images the reflection light on aCCD line sensor (simply called a CCD hereinafter) 76. The CCD 76 whichis the color sensor capable of independently obtaining each of R (red),G (green) and B (blue) analog color signals converts the obtained lightimage into each analog color signal. This analog signal is convertedinto an eight-bit digital signal by an A/D converter (not shown), andthis digital signal is input to an image signal control unit 77.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image signal control unit 77 contains a shadingcorrection unit 301 to which digital color signals R1, G1 and B1 areinput from the CCD 76. The shading correction unit 301 performs shadingcorrection for each color. Color signals R2, G2 and B2 subjected to theshading correction are input to a shift memory unit 302, and the shiftmemory unit 302 corrects color and pixel misregistering of each inputcolor signal. Also, the shift memory unit 302 can perform amagnification change and movement process to each input color signal byperforming thinning, interpolation and movement, on the basis of acontrol signal from a magnification change and movement process unit309. Color signals R3, G3 and B3 subjected to the correction in theshift memory unit 302 are input to a color judgement unit 310 and a LOG(logarithmic) conversion unit 303. In the LOG conversion unit 303,logarithmic correction for light/density conversion is performed,whereby the input color signals R3, G3 and B3 are converted into densitysignals Y (representing yellow density), M (representing magentadensity) and C (representing cyan density), respectively.

The density signals Y, M and C are input to a black creation unit 304,and the black creation unit 304 generates a density signal Bk(representing black density) based on the density signals Y, M and C.For example, the density signal Bk is generated by an expression Min(Y,M, C). Then, the density signals Y, M, C and Bk are input to amasking/UCR (under color removal) unit 305. The masking/UCR unit 305corrects the filter characteristic and the toner density characteristicof the CCD 76 with respect to each of the input density signals Y, M, Cand Bk, and eliminates unnecessary components. Then, one color signal tobe developed is selected from among the four color signals.

The selected color signal is input to a density conversion unit 307, andthe density conversion unit 307 performs density conversion according tothe development characteristic of the image forming unit 102 andoperator's liking. The color signal subjected to the density conversionis then input to a trimming processing unit 308, the trimming processingunit 308 performs an editing process of a predetermined interval for theinput signal, and the signal subjected to the editing process is thentransferred to the image forming unit 102.

The color judgement unit 310 detects a chromatic color greater than acertain level on the basis of each color signal input from the shiftmemory unit 302. Here, when the signal ratio of each of the colorsignals R, G and B is equal to others, an achromatic color is detected.Thus, when the differences among the color signals R, G and B are small,the objective color is judged to an achromatic color, whereby it ispossible to judge whether or not an original includes a chromatic coloror an achromatic color.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 102 contains plural recordingsheet storage units 53 and 54 on which different-sized recording sheetsS are stacked, and the recording sheets S are fed by recording sheetfeed units 55 and 56 respectively. The fed recording sheet S is carriedto a sheet carrying path 58 through a sheet carrying path 57.

Further, the image forming unit 102 contains a laser scanner 61 whichperforms scanning by a laser beam through a reflection mirror 62 andthus forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body (ordrum) 60, on the basis of the digital signal output from the imagesignal control unit 77. The electrostatic latent image formed on thephotosensitive body 60 is developed by corresponding-colored toner andvisualized as a toner image, and the obtained toner image is transferredto the sheet S carried to the sheet carrying path 58 by a transfer drum64. Here, a rotation development unit 59 is used to develop theelectrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body 60. The rotationdevelopment unit 59 is composed of an M (magenta) development unit 68, aC (cyan) development unit 66, a Y (yellow) development unit 69 and a Bk(black) development unit 67, and these color development unitsalternately supply to the photosensitive drum 60 respective toners usedto develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 60.The sheet S is wound around the transfer drum 64, and the developedimage on the photosensitive drum 60 is transferred to the wound sheet S.Thus, M, C, Y and Bk development agents are sequentially transferred tothe sheet S, the sheet S on which the images of respective colors weretransferred is carried to a fixing unit 70 by a carrying belt 63, andthe transferred image is fixed to the sheet S by the fixing unit 70.

The sheet S on which the image was fixed is carried to the sheetprocessing unit 103 through a sheet discharge flapper 80 and a sheetdischarge roller 65 or to a two-faced copying path 81 through theflapper 80. The two-faced copying path 81 is the path which is used toreverse the sheet S one face of which has the formed image and againcarry the reversed sheet S to the photosensitive drum 60. By guiding thesheet S to the two-faced copying path 81, an image can be formed on oneface of the sheet S the other face thereof has the formed image, wherebya two-faced copying mode can be realized.

The sheet processing unit 103 contains an inlet carrying path 10 whichis used to take in the sheet S discharged from the image forming unit102 and a carrying path 2 which is used to discharge the took-in sheet Sto a stacking tray 30 of a bin unit 5 through a flapper 11 and a sheetdischarge roller 12. A sensor 16 which detects the sheet S is providedon the inlet carrying path 10. The sheets S on the carrying path 10 canbe discharged to predetermined stacking bins 31 through the flapper 11and carrying rollers 13, 14 and 15. A stapling unit 6 is disposedbetween the carrying path 14 and the carrying roller 15 to staple asheaf of the sheets stacked on the stacking bin 31. As described above,the bin unit 5 contains the stacking tray 30 and the plural stackingbins 31. Each bin 31 is moved up and down, whereby the discharged sheetsS are stacked on the corresponding stacking bin 31. Further, a sensor 32is provided to be able to detect presence/absence of the sheet S on eachstacking bin 31.

An operation unit 40 is provided on the reading unit 101 to perform andconfirm the operation setting of the reading unit 101, the image formingunit 102 and the sheet processing unit 103. The operation unit 40includes a display section for confirming the setting contents, a touchpanel key overlapped and displayed on the display section for performingdetailed setting of an image forming operation, operating setting forthe sheet processing unit and the like, a ten-key section for settingnumerals such as the number of image forming copies and the like, a stopkey for stopping the image forming operation, a reset key forinitializing the current setting, a start key for starting the imageforming operation, and the like. The detailed structure of the operationunit 40 will be described later.

Next, the control structure of the image forming system according to thepresent embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 isa block diagram showing the control structure of the image formingapparatus of FIG. 1.

In the copying machine 1000, a CPU (central processing unit) circuitunit 200 is provided. The CPU circuit unit 200 which contains a CPU2002, a memory 2001, an I/O (input/output) control unit 2003 and thelike performs operation and entire control according to a predeterminedprogram. The memory 2001, which includes a RAM, a ROM, an IC card, afloppy disk and the like for storing programs and predetermined data,reads and writes the program and the data. The I/O control unit 2003transmits and controls various input and output signals.

An operation unit control unit 201, a reading control unit 202, arecording sheet feed control unit 203, an image forming control unit 204and a sheet processing control unit 205 are connected to the I/O controlunit 2003. The memory 2001 and the I/O control unit 2003 are controlledin response to a control signal transferred from the CPU 2002. Further,the operation unit control unit 201, the reading control unit 202, therecording sheet feed control unit 203, the image forming control unit204 and the sheet processing control unit 205 are operated by the CPUcircuit unit 200 through the I/O control unit 2003. Thus, the operationunit control unit 201 displays various information on the operation unit40 and accepts various input operations on the operation unit 40. Thereading control unit 202 drives and controls the reading unit 101. Therecording sheet feed control unit 203 controls the feed operations ofthe sheets S from each of the recording sheet storage units 53 and 54 inthe image forming unit 102. The image forming control unit 204 controlsthe laser beam scanning, the driving of the photosensitive drum 60 andits peripheral units, the driving of the carrying rollers, and the like.The sheet processing control unit 205 controls the driving of the sheetprocessing unit 103.

In the copying machine 1000 having the above structure, when a user setsthe original on the ADF 51 of the reading unit 101, sets an operationmode, and instructs to start copying, the set original is fed one by oneto the reading position on the original mounting board glass 78 by theADF 51, and the fed original is then read by the reading unit 101.

In the CCD 76, the read original image is photoelectrically convertedinto the analog color signals, and each analog color signal is furtheranalog-to-digital converted into the digital image signal to be output.After various image processes are performed to the read image signal inaccordance with user setting from the operation unit 40, the processedimage signal is converted into the laser signal to exposure thephotosensitive drum 60, and then the image is formed on the sheet Sthrough ordinary electrophotographic processes, i.e., charging,exposure, latent image forming, development, transfer, separation andfixing processes. The sheet S on which the image was formed is carriedto the inlet carrying path 10 of the sheet processing unit 103. Thesheet processing unit 103 is controlled by the sheet processing controlunit 205 on the basis of the instruction from the CPU circuit unit 200,in accordance with the setting from the operation unit 40.

Next, the structure of the operation unit 40 will be explained withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the outerstructure of the operation unit 40, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing anexample of the operation screen displayed on the LCD (liquid crystaldisplay) of the operation unit 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 40 is composed of an LCD 620 andplural hardware keys. The LCD 620 on which a touch panel sheet has beenadhered displays a system operation screen and various software keys.When the displayed software key is depressed, its positional informationis output to the CPU 2002 of the CPU circuit unit 200 through theoperation unit control unit 201. Further, the LCD 620 captures anddisplays the information transferred from the CPU 2002.

The operation screen of the LCD 620 shown in FIG. 4 is the operationscreen which corresponds to a copy A function and on which varioussoftware keys are displayed. The user can perform mode setting in thecopy A function by depressing these software keys. A key 627 is used toselect the sheet, and keys 628, 629, 630 and 632 are used to set amagnification in a copying operation. An application mode key 626 isused to set various application function modes such as a multicopyingmode, a reduction layout mode, a cover/insert sheet mode and the like.When the application mode key 626 is depressed, the setting screen forthe application function mode is displayed. A key 624 is used to set atwo-faced copying operation. By depressing the key 624, “one-facedoriginal to two-faced copy mode” that one two-faced copy is producedfrom two one-faced originals, “two-faced original to two-faced copymode” that one two-faced copy is produced from one two-faced original,and “two-faced original to one-faced copy mode” that two one-facedcopies are produced from one two-faced original can be set. A key 625 isused to set the operation mode of the sheet processing unit 103, anoutput sheet sort mode using a memory, and the like.

A key 633 is used to set a color original reading mode that only colororiginals are read and output from the plural originals p stacked on theoriginal stacking tray 50. A key 631 is used to set a mode that only B/Woriginals are read and output from the plural originals p stacked on theoriginal stacking tray 50. When either one of the keys 633 and 631 isdepressed, the key corresponding to the selected mode is B/W-reverselydisplayed, whereby the user can know the selected reading mode. Further,when the B/W-reversely displayed key is depressed, the set mode isreleased, and the corresponding key is normally displayed (i.e., in anonreverse display state). When both the keys 633 and 631 are in thenonreverse display state, the reading unit 101 is in the initial state.Thus, an ordinary reading mode that all the originals stacked on theoriginal stacking tray 50 are read irrespective of the color originaland the B/W original is set.

The shading is added to the key which is displayed within the LCD 620and can not be used, i.e., this key is screened, whereby the keyoperation corresponding to this key is not accepted. The display areawhich shows the operation state of other function mode is arranged atthe lower part of the LCD 620. In the present embodiment, this areashows that the output operation to the image forming unit 102 is beingperformed in a copy B function.

As the hardware keys, a power switch 613, a start key 614, a stop key615, a reset key 616, a guide key 617, a user setting key 618, aninterruption key 619, a ten-key group 622 and a clear key 623 areprovided. The power switch 613 is used to turn on and off the powersupply. When the power supply is turned on by depressing the powerswitch 613, a power lamp 621 indicating the power-on state is lit. Thestart key 614 is used to instruct the start of the reading operation ofthe original image, and a two-color (red and green) LED (not shown) isarranged in the center part of this key. The red lighting of the startkey 614 indicates that the depression of the start key 614 is notaccepted, while the green lighting of this key indicates that thedepression of this key is accepted. The stop key 615 is used to stop theoperation, the reset key 616 is used to initialize the setting issuedfrom the operation unit 40, and the guide key 617 is used to display theexplanation of the function capable of being set by each key on the LCD620. The user setting key 618 is used when the setting of the copyingmachine 1000 is changed by the user. For example, it is possible bydepressing this key to change a time while the setting is automaticallycleared, a default value of the mode when the reset key 616 isdepressed, and the like. The interruption key 619 is used to makeanother job interrupt on the way of one job, and the clear key 623 isused to clear the setting input by the ten-key group 622.

Further, as the hardware keys, a copy A function key 601, a copy Bfunction key 604, a fax function key 607 and a printer function key 610are provided. These function keys are used when the displayed content ofthe LCD 620 of the operation unit 40 is changed to perform the settingof each function in the copying operation and the system operation. Eachof these function keys is the semitransparent key and incorporates adisplay lamp (not shown) such as an LED or the like, and lighting of thedisplay lamp is controlled according to the selected operation screen.Green LED's 603, 606, 609 and 612 are arranged at the right of thefunction keys 601, 604, 607 and 610 respectively, and lighting of eachLED is controlled to indicate the operation state. For example, when thecopy B function key 604 is depressed, the operation screen correspondingto the copy B function is displayed on the LCD 620. When the copy Bfunction is on standby, the LED 606 corresponding to the copy B functionkey 604 is controlled to be turned off. While the output operation isbeing performed in the copy B function, the LED 606 corresponding to thecopy B function key 604 is controlled to be blinked. When the image ofthe copy B function was stored in the memory 2001 and the printingoperation of the copy B function is not performed, the LED 606 iscontrolled to be lit.

Red LED's 602, 605, 608 and 611 are arranged at the left of the functionkeys 601, 604, 607 and 610 respectively, and each LED is controlled tobe lit when abnormality occurs in each function. For example, whenabnormality such as sheet lack interruption, a jam or the like occurs inthe copy B function, the LED 605 corresponding to the copy B functionkey 604 is controlled to be blinked. At this time, when the copy Bfunction key 604 is depressed, the abnormality state in the copy Bfunction is displayed, whereby the user can know the details of such theabnormality.

The function keys 601, 604, 607 and 610 can be depressed irrespective ofan operating state. Thus, by changing the content displayed on the LCD620, the operation screen can be changed. The stop key 615, the startkey 614, the reset 616 or the like can be set as the keys used toperform the operation corresponding to the function selected by eachfunction key. For example, while the operation screen of the copy Afunction is being displayed on the LCD 620, if it is intended to stopthe copying operation of the copy B function, the operation screen ischanged by depressing the copy B function key 604, and then the stop key615 is depressed. Thus, the copying operation of the copy B function canbe stopped. Further, since the content changed by the user setting key618 is reflected in the function selected when the content is changed,such the content can be independently set to each function.

The copying machine 1000 in the present embodiment outputs the sheet tobe set to the inserter, in order to reduce as much as possible theuser's working necessary to set the insert sheet to the inserter. Forexample, the copying machine 1000 can be efficient especially in such asystem as shown in FIG. 38A.

In FIG. 38A, the copying machine 1000 in the present embodiment outputsthe sheets in the form suitable for a used inserter, e.g., an inserter104 a of an image forming apparatus (or a copying machine) 1001 a, aninserter 104 b of an image forming apparatus (or a copying machine) 1001b, or the like.

The inserter inserts a specific sheet such as a cover, an insert sheet,a color sheet, a sheet on which a color image has been formed, or thelike into the sheets subjected to the image forming by the image formingunit. The sheet fed from the inserter is guided inside the finisherwithout the image forming unit, and discharged to the sheet dischargeunit of the finisher.

It is assumed that the copying machine (or called the image formingapparatus) 1000 of the present embodiment is image forming apparatushaving the image forming unit capable of forming a color image on asheet, and the image forming apparatuses 1001 a and 1001 b are the imageforming apparatuses respectively forming B/W images on sheets. Afinisher 103 a including the inserter 104 a having one inserter bin isconnected to the image forming apparatus 1001 a, and a finisher 103 bincluding the inserter 104 b having three inserter bins is connected tothe image forming apparatus 1001 b. Other basic structures are common inthese image forming apparatuses, and the explanation thereof will beomitted.

Next, a series of processes including the operations of the apparatusesand the user's working in a case where the image forming apparatus 1000of the present embodiment and the image forming apparatus 1001 acooperate to generate the copy of the sheaf of the originals p mixedlyincluding color and B/W originals will be briefly explained.

First, the user sets on the original stacking tray 50 of the apparatus1000 the sheaf of the originals p mixedly including the color and B/Woriginals in the state that the first page of this sheaf is uppermostand faceup. Then, the user selects and sets an insert output mode(described later) on the operation unit 40, and depresses the copy startkey.

Then, the image forming apparatus 1000 sequentially feeds the originalsp while maintaining the page order, and discriminates whether theoriginal of each page is the color original on which the color image wasformed or the B/W original on which the B/W image was formed. The pageof the color original in the sheaf of the originals is subjected to thecolor image forming by the color image forming unit of the apparatus1000, while the page of the B/W original is not subjected to the imageforming.

Thus, the copies of only the color pages in the sheaf of the originals pare output in the sequential page order on the sheet discharge tray 30of the finisher 103 of the image forming apparatus 1000. The ADF 51performs a color and B/W discrimination process to all the pages whilemaintaining the page order, and discharges the original to an originaldischarge unit 50 a, whereby it is possible to end the above processwhile maintaining the page order like the time when the original was setto the original stacking tray 50.

Then, the user takes the output of only the color pages from the sheetdischarge unit 30, and sets as insert sheet the output to an inserterbin 20 of the inserter 104 a on the finisher 103 a of the image formingapparatus 1001 a having the B/W image forming unit in the state that thefirst page of the output is uppermost and faceup. On the other hand, theuser takes from the original discharge unit 50 a the sheaf of theoriginals p mixedly including the color and B/W originals and subjectedto the color and B/W discrimination process in the state that the pageorder is maintained as it is, and then sets the sheaf to an originaltray 52 a of the image forming apparatus 1001 a in the state that thefirst page of the sheaf is uppermost and faceup. After the insert sheetand the sheaf of the original were set, the user selects and sets theinsert output mode for causing the image forming apparatus 1001 a toperform the process using the inserter 104 a such as a gathering processof the color output from the inserter and the printing-processed sheet,and then depresses the copy start key.

Then, the image forming apparatus 1001 a sequentially feeds the sheaf ofthe originals from the tray 52 a while maintaining the page order, anddiscriminates whether the original of each page is the color original onwhich the color image was formed or the B/W original on which the B/Wimage was formed. When the discriminated page is the B/W page, this pageis subjected to the image forming by the B/W image forming unit of theapparatus 1001 a, and the image-formed sheet is then guided inside thefinisher 103 a and discharged to the sheet discharge unit such as asheet discharge bin 85 or 86. On the other hand, when the discriminatedpage is the color page, any image forming is not performed. Instead, thecolor output being the insert sheet is fed from the inserter bin of theinserter 104 a, and carried to the sheet discharge unit same as that towhich the sheet subjected to the image forming of the B/W page iscarried, through the carrying paths in the finisher.

Namely, in the image forming apparatus 1001 a, only the B/W pages in thesheaf of the originals set on the tray 52 a are subjected to the imageforming, while the color pages are is not subjected to the imageforming, and instead the color output being the insert sheet andsubjected to the color image forming is fed from the inserter. Thus, inthe sheet discharge unit of the image forming apparatus 1001 a, theoutput sheaf in which the color output and the B/W output are gatheredin the page order same as that of the sheaf of the originals can begenerated as one group.

The above is the basic flow of the series of processes including theoperations of the apparatuses and the user's working in the case wherethe two image forming apparatuses including the image formingapparatuses 1000 and 1001 a cooperate to generate the copy of the sheafof the originals mixedly including the color and B/W originals. Here,the processes include the sheet output process of the image formingapparatus 1000 setting the sheet on the inserter, and the insert processof the image forming apparatus 1001 a using the inserter.

In the present embodiment, the sheet output process of the image formingapparatus 1000 for setting the sheet on the inserter will beemphatically explained later.

In consideration of the basic flow of the series of processes, forexample, a case where one sheaf of five originals that the first, thirdand fifth pages are the color originals and the second and fourth pagesare the B/W originals is subjected to the image forming to generatethree copies will be explained. For example, in the case where the imageforming apparatus 1001 a is used as the apparatus actually performingthe insert process in addition to the image forming apparatus 1000 ofthe present embodiment, when the setting of the insert output mode isperformed on the operation unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 1000of the present embodiment, the user performs the setting on the side ofthe image forming apparatus 1000 in consideration of the processes laterperformed on the side of the image forming apparatus 1001 a. Forexample, since the inserter 104 a of the image forming apparatus 1001 ais the type having one inserter bin, the information concerning such afact is input from the operation unit 40 in the setting of the insertoutput mode. At this time, the user also sets the number of outputcopies, and depresses the copy start key. Thus, the image formingapparatus 1000 generates the three sheaves of the sheets each composedof the sheet on which the color image of the first page was formed, thesheet on which the color image of the third page was formed, and thesheet on which the color image of the fifth page was formed, and storesthem in the same tray of the sheet discharge bin 30. Namely, the ninesheets (p1, p3, p5, p1, p3, p5, p1, p3, p5) are stored in one sheetdischarge bin.

Then, the user takes the nine sheets from the one sheet discharge binand sets them as the insert sheets in the inserter bin 20 of the imageforming apparatus 1001 a in the state that the first page thereof isuppermost and faceup. At that time, the user also sets the sheaf of theoriginals on the original stacking tray 50 of the image formingapparatus 1000 to the original tray 52 a of the image forming apparatus1001 a. Then, the user performs, on the operation unit 40 a of the imageforming apparatus 1001 a, the setting for causing the image formingapparatus 1001 a to perform the process using the inserter 104 a, andthen depresses the copy start key.

Thus, the image forming apparatus 1001 a performs the color and B/Wdiscrimination process for the sheaf of the originals from the firstpage in due order. When the discrimination is performed for the first,third and fifth pages of the sheaf, since the discriminated resultsindicate the color originals, the image forming is not performed, andthus the sheet is fed from the inserter bin 20. When the discriminationis performed for the second and fourth pages of the sheaf, since thediscriminated results indicate the B/W originals, the image forming isperformed. Thus, the sheaf of one set of the sheets consisting of p1(color), p2 (B/W), p3 (color), p4 (B/W) and p5 (color) is discharged tothe sheet discharge unit. By repeating such the series of processesthree times, the sheaves of three sets of the sheets are discharged.

In the above, one example that the image forming apparatus 1000 of thepresent embodiment and the image forming apparatus 1001 a cooperate togenerate the copy of the sheaf of the originals mixedly including thecolor and B/W originals was explained. Next, an example that the imageforming apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment and the image formingapparatus 1001 b cooperate to generate the copy of the sheaf of theoriginals mixedly including the color and B/W originals will beexplained.

First, when the setting of the insert output mode is performed on theoperation unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 1000 of the presentembodiment, the user performs the setting on the side of the imageforming apparatus 1000 in consideration of the processes later performedon the side of the image forming apparatus 1001 b. For example, sincethe inserter 104 b of the image forming apparatus 1001 b is the typehaving three inserter bins, the information concerning such a fact isinput from the operation unit 40 in the setting of the insert outputmode. At this time, the user also sets the number of output copies, anddepresses the copy start key. Thus, for example, the image formingapparatus 1000 discharges the three sheets on which the color image ofthe first page of the sheaf of the originals was formed to the first binof the sheet discharge unit 30, discharges the three sheets on which thecolor image of the third page of the sheaf was formed to the second binof the sheet discharge unit 30, and discharges the three sheets on whichthe color image of the fifth page of the sheaf was formed to the thirdbin of the sheet discharge unit 30. Namely, the sheets p1, p1 and p1 aredischarged to the first bin, the sheets p3, p3 and p3 are discharged tothe second bin, and the sheets p5, p5 and p5 are discharged to the thirdbin.

Then, the operation on the side of the image forming apparatus 1001 b isperformed. First, the user sets the sheaf of the three sheets being thecolor copies of the originals p1, p1 and p1 in the first bin of thesheet discharge unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 1000 to the firstinserter bin 20 of the image forming apparatus 1001 b as the insertsheets in the state that the first page thereof is uppermost and faceup.The user sets the sheaf of the three sheets being the color copies ofthe originals p3, p3 and p3 in the second bin of the sheet dischargeunit 30 of the image forming apparatus 1000 to the second inserter bin20 of the image forming apparatus 1001 b in the similar state. The usersets the sheaf of the three sheets being the color copies of theoriginals p5, p5 and p5 in the third bin of the sheet discharge unit 30of the image forming apparatus 1000 to the third inserter bin 20 of theimage forming apparatus 1001 b in the similar state.

At that time, the user also sets the sheaf of the originals on theoriginal stacking tray 50 of the image forming apparatus 1000 to anoriginal tray 52 b of the image forming apparatus 1001 b. Then, the userperforms, on an operation unit 40 b of the image forming apparatus 1001b, the setting for causing the image forming apparatus 1001 b to performthe process using the inserter 104 b, and then depresses the copy startkey.

Thus, the image forming apparatus 1001 b performs the color and B/Wdiscrimination process for the sheaf of the originals from the firstpage in due order. When the discrimination is performed for the firstpage of the sheaf, since the discriminated result indicates the colororiginal, the image forming is not performed, and thus the sheet is fedby one from the first inserter bin 20. When the discrimination isperformed for the second page of the sheaf, since the discriminatedresult indicates the B/W original, the image forming of the original p2is performed. When the discrimination is performed for the third page ofthe sheaf, since the discriminated result indicates the color original,the image forming is not performed, and thus the sheet is fed by onefrom the second inserter bin 20. When the discrimination is performedfor the fourth page of the sheaf, since the discriminated resultindicates the B/W original, the image forming of the original p4 isperformed. When the discrimination is performed for the fifth page ofthe sheaf, since the discriminated result indicates the color original,the image forming is not performed, and thus the sheet is fed by onefrom the third inserter bin 20. Thus, the sheaf of one set of the sheetsconsisting of p1 (color), p2 (B/W), p3 (color), p4 (B/W) and p5 (color)is discharged to the sheet discharge unit. By repeating such the seriesof processes three times, the sheaves of three sets of the sheets aredischarged.

As explained in the example of the cooperation of the image formingapparatus 1000 and the image forming apparatus 1001 a having the one-bininserter 104 a and the example of the cooperation of the image formingapparatus 1000 and the image forming apparatus 1001 b having thethree-bin inserter 104 b, according to the present embodiment, it ispossible on the side of the image forming apparatus 1000 to perform theimage forming and sorting processes suitable for the inserter actuallyused. Namely, the processes that the inserter of what function in whattype is used in the following operation is considered can be performedon the side of the apparatus 1000. For example, the process ofperforming the image forming only to the color pages in the sheaf of theoriginals, the process of outputting the sheets in the order of p1, p3,p5, p1, p3, p5, p1, p3, p5 and discharging the continuous color pages tothe same sheet discharge bin, the process of outputting the sheets inthe order of p1, p1, p1, p3, p3, p3, p5, p5, p5 and discharging the samecolor pages to one bin, and the like can be performed. Thus, it ispossible to increase operability when the user sets the insert sheetoutput from the side of the image forming apparatus 1000 to theinserters of the image forming apparatuses 1001 a and 1001 b, wherebyerroneous setting of the insert sheet to the inserter, erroneousoperations and the like can be prevented.

On the operation screen of FIG. 4 displayed on the display panel of theoperation unit 40 disposed on the image forming apparatus 1000 of thepresent embodiment, when the software key (the sheet dischargeprocessing key 625) is depressed by the user, the displayed content ischanged to that on the operation screen of FIG. 5. The operation screenof FIG. 5 is the initial operation screen for setting the sheetdischarge process. On this initial operation screen, a sort key 632′which is used to set a sort mode, a stapling sort key 633′ which is usedto set a mode for performing a stapling process to the sheaf of thesorted and output sheets, a group key 634 which is used to set a groupmode for discharging the sheets copying-processed and output based onone original to one stacking bin 31, an insert sheet making mode key 642for setting the insert output mode, and the like are displayed. When theinsert sheet making mode key 642 is depressed, the insert output mode isselected, whereby a one-bin inserter key 643, a three-bin inserter key644 and a five-bin inserter key 645 which are used to designate the kindof inserter can be selected exclusively. For example, in FIG. 38B, whenthe insert process using the inserter 104 a of the image formingapparatus 1001 a is performed later, the one bin inserter key 643 isselected. When the insert process using the inserter 104 b of the imageforming apparatus 1001 b is performed, the three bin inserter key 644 isselected. It should be noted that these keys for setting the sheetdischarge processing modes are selectable exclusively, and the sheetdischarge processing mode is selectable in each mode. Further, a cancelkey 636 and an OK key 637 are displayed. The cancel key 636 is used tocancel the setting of the sheet discharge processing mode, and the OKkey 637 is used to establish the setting item selected on the operationscreen.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to set the insert output modethat only the color originals are read from the sheaf of the originals,the read color image is formed on the sheet, and this sheet is output asthe insert sheet to be set to the inserter. The insert output mode isselected by depressing the insert sheet making mode key 642. On theoperation screen of FIG. 5, when any one of the one-bin inserter key643, the three-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, the kind of inserter is selected, whereby the number of thestorable sheets or the numeral according to the selected kind ofinserter is selected and set.

For example, in the case where one sheaf of the five originals that thefirst, third and fifth pages are the color originals and the second andfourth pages are the B/W originals is subjected to the image forming togenerate three copies, when the image forming apparatus 1001 a is usedas the apparatus actually performing the insert process in addition tothe image forming apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment, the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed by the user on the operationscreen of FIG. 5, and the one-bin inserter key 643 is depressed. Thus,the image forming for the parts corresponding to the B/W pages in thesheaf of the originals is inhibited, while the image forming for onlythe originals p1, p3 and p5 corresponding to the color pages isperformed, the sheets are output in the order of p1, p3, p5, p1, p3, p5,p1, p3, p5, and these sheets are all discharged to the first bin of thesheet discharge unit 30. As above, according as the one-bin inserter key643 is selected, it is possible to execute the mode that the sheets aresorted such that the sheets of different (but successive) pages directedto a first-type image are selected from the series of originals havingplural pages and sequentially stored in one stacking unit (this modecorresponding to an F mode described later).

Further, for example, when the image forming apparatus 1001 b is used asthe apparatus actually performing the insert process in addition to theimage forming apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment, the insert sheetmaking mode key 642 is depressed by the user on the operation screen ofFIG. 5, and the three-bin inserter key 644 is depressed. Thus, the imageforming for the parts corresponding to the B/W pages in the sheaf of theoriginals is inhibited, while the image forming for only the originalsp1, p3 and p5 corresponding to the color pages is performed, the sheetsof p1, p1, p1are discharged to the first bin of the sheet dischargeunit, the sheets of p3, p3, p3 are discharged to the second bin of thesheet discharge unit, and the sheets of p5, p5, p5 are discharged to thethird bin of the sheet discharge unit. Further, according to the user'ssetting, the number of originals or the like, the sheets are sorted suchthat the sheets p1, p3 and p5 are discharged to the first, second andthird bins respectively. As above, according as the three-bin inserterkey 644 is selected, it is possible to execute the mode that the sheetsare sorted such that the sheets of the same page directed to thefirst-type image are selected in the series of originals having pluralpages and sequentially stored in one stacking unit (this modecorresponding to an S mode described later).

Next, the insert output mode will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the insert output modein the copying machine of FIG. 1. This insert output mode is controlledby the CPU circuit unit 200.

First, it is judged in a step S11 whether or not the insert sheetmaking-mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S12 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the insert output mode is set. Then, the flowadvances to a step S13 to wait for the depression of the start key 614.Conversely, if judged in the step Sll that the insert sheet making modekey 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over the step S12 and advancesto the step S13 to wait for the depression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S14 tojudge whether or not the insert output mode is set. If judged that theinsert output mode is not set, the copying machine is considered toperform an ordinary copying operation, and the flow advances to a stepS19. In this step, the original p is carried one by one in due orderfrom the original stacking tray 50 to the original mounting board glass78, and the carried original is read. In a next step S20, the imageforming of the read original is performed, and it is judged in a stepS21 whether or not the image forming of the last original ends. Ifjudged that the image forming of the last original does not end, theflow returns to the step S19 to read the next original. Conversely, ifjudged in the step S21 that the image forming of the last original ends,the process ends. When an image forming mode other than the insertoutput mode is selected, it is permitted to perform the image formingfor all pages of the original set on the original stacking tray 50.Namely, it is permitted to print all the pages of the sheaf of theoriginals mixedly including the color and B/W originals. When the insertoutput mode is selected, it is inhibited to perform the image formingfor all the pages, whereby the printing for only one of the two types oforiginals (i.e., the color original and the B/W original) is performed,but the printing for the other type of original is inhibited. In thepresent embodiment, only the color pages of the originals mixedlyincluding the color and B/W originals are printed, but the B/W pagesthereof are not printed.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S14 that the insert output modeis set, the flow advances to a step S15 to start feed of the originalfrom the ADF 51 and judge in response to the output from the originaldiscrimination sensor provided on the ADF 51 whether or not the fedoriginal is a color original. If judged that the fed original is thecolor original, this original is considered to be read, and the flowadvances to a step S16 to read the image of this original and store itin a memory. Then, the flow advances to a step S17 to judge whether ornot the reading of the last original ends. If judged that the reading ofthe last original does not end, the flow returns to the step S15 tostart feed of the next original and judge whether or not the fedoriginal is a color original. Conversely, if judged that the reading ofthe last original ends, the flow advances to a step S18 to read theimages from the memory in due order and form the read images on therespective sheets. In the insert output mode, only the pagescorresponding to the color originals in the sheaf of the originals seton the original stacking tray 50 are subjected to the image forming, butthe image forming for the pages corresponding to the B/W originals isinhibited. In this case, the image forming corresponding to the numberof the storable sheets or the numeral according to the selected kind ofinserter is performed. Then, the process ends.

In the insert output mode of the present embodiment, it is controlled toperform the image forming only to the color pages of the originalsmixedly including the color and B/W originals but not to perform theimage forming to the B/W pages. This is because the image formingapparatus 1000 of the present embodiment is the image forming apparatuswhich has the color image forming unit capable of forming a color imageon a sheet. Therefore, in a case where the image forming apparatus whichhas the B/W image forming unit forming a B/W image on a sheet is appliedas another form, it may be controlled in the step S15 of FIG. 6 that theflow advances to the step S17 if the original is judged to be the colororiginal, while the flow advances to the step S16 if the original isjudged to be the B/W original. Then, in the step S18, it may becontrolled that the B/W image forming is performed for the originalscorresponding to the B/W pages. Thus, the present invention isapplicable to the B/W image forming apparatus. It should be noted thateither one of these two types of originals can be subjected to theprinting from the operation unit irrespective of the attribute to theimage forming unit.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possibleto obtain the sheet output used as the insert sheet suitable for theinserter without delay.

In the present embodiment, the insert output mode to discriminate onlythe color originals from the originals mixedly including the color andB/W originals and read the discriminated color originals was explained.However, it is needless to say that an insert output mode to read onlythe B/W originals can be set, and each of these two types of insertoutput modes can be selected and set.

[Second Embodiment]

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12A, 12B and 12C. FIG. 7 is adiagram showing the outer structure of the operation unit in an imageforming apparatus according to the second embodiment, FIG. 8 is adiagram showing a sheet discharge mode selection screen in the insertoutput mode displayed on the operation unit of FIG. 7, FIGS. 9 to 11 areflow charts showing a procedure of the insert output mode in the imageforming apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIGS. 12A, 12Band 12C are diagrams showing an example of sheet discharge based on theinsert output mode in the image forming apparatus according to thesecond embodiment.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the pointthat either one of an S mode (a first sheet discharge mode) and an Fmode (a second sheet discharge mode) can be selected and set. Here, inthe S mode, a kind of inserter is first input, the number of copies ofthe sheets to be output in the insert output mode is set according tothe input kind of inserter, and then the sheets S which correspond tothe same page and the number of which corresponds to the set number ofcopies are sorted and output to one stacking bin 31 of the bin unit 5 indue order. Further, in the F mode, the sheets S of the set number ofcopies are sorted and output to each stacking bin 31 in the unit of thenumber of copies. It should be noted that, like the first embodiment, inthe insert output mode of the present embodiment, only the colororiginal is read, and the sheet on which the image of only the readcolor original was formed is output as the insert sheet.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, an operationunit 40 which has substantially the same key arrangement as that of theoperation unit of the first embodiment is provided, but any B/W originalreading key is not provided as a software key in an LCD 620 of thisoperation unit 40. In any case, the present embodiment basically has thesame structure as that of the first embodiment, whereby the explanationthereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, when a sheet discharge processing key(software key) 625 is depressed on the operation screen shown in FIG. 7,as described in the first embodiment, the initial operation screen ofFIG. 5 for setting the sheet discharge process is displayed. On thisinitial operation screen, when the insert sheet making mode key 642 isdepressed, the insert output mode is selected, whereby the one-bininserter key 643, the three-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bininserter key 645 which are used to designate the kind of inserter can beselected exclusively. When one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, the kind of inserter is selected, whereby the number ofoutput copies according to the selected kind of inserter (i.e., thenumber of the storable sheets in the F mode, and the numeral in the Smode) is selected and set. When the setting of the items is determinedor established on this operation screen, this screen is changed to theoperation screen shown in FIG. 8

On the operation screen shown in FIG. 8, a software key 640 used toselect the S mode and a software key 641 used to select the F mode aredisplayed. Thus, when either one of the keys 640 and 641 is selected,the corresponding mode is set.

Here, the S mode and the F mode will be explained in detail. In the Smode, the sheets S of the same page in the sheets of the number ofcopies set according to the kind of inserter are output to one stackingbin 31. For example, it is assumed that, in a sheaf of originals whichmixedly include the originals on which color images were formedrespectively and the originals on which B/W images were formedrespectively, there are the five originals corresponding to color pages,and the set number of output copies is six. In this case, as shown inFIG. 12A, six sheets on which the color image corresponding to the firstcolor original in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the colorand B/W originals was formed respectively are output to the bin #1, sixsheets on which the color image corresponding to the second colororiginal in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the color andB/W originals was formed respectively are output to the bin #2, sixsheets on which the color image corresponding to the third colororiginal in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the color andB/W originals was formed respectively are output to the bin #3, sixsheets on which the color image corresponding to the fourth colororiginal in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the color andB/W originals was formed respectively are output to the bin #4, and sixsheets on which the color image corresponding to the fifth colororiginal in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the color andB/W originals was formed respectively are output to the bin #5. Here, itis inhibited to perform the image forming for the pages corresponding tothe B/W originals in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including thecolor and B/W originals, in the insert output mode.

In the F mode, the sheets S of the set number of copies are sorted andoutput to each stacking bin 31 in the unit of the number of copies. Forexample, it is assumed that, in a sheaf of originals which mixedlyinclude the originals on which color images were formed respectively andthe originals on which B/W images were formed respectively, there arethe five originals corresponding to color pages, and the set number ofoutput copies is five. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12B, a sheaf (ofthe first copy) of the five sheets on which the first to fifth colorimages in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the color and B/Woriginals were formed respectively are output to the bin #1. Similarly,a sheaf (of the second copy) of the five sheets on which the first tofifth color images in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including thecolor and B/W originals were formed respectively are output to the bin#2, a sheaf (of the third copy) of the five sheets on which the first tofifth color images in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including thecolor and B/W originals were formed respectively are output to the bin#3, a sheaf (of the fourth copy) of the five sheets on which the firstto fifth color images in the sheaf of the originals mixedly includingthe color and B/W originals were formed respectively are output to thebin #4, and a sheaf (of the fifth copy) of the five sheets on which thefirst to fifth color images in the sheaf of the originals mixedlyincluding the color and B/W originals were formed respectively areoutput to the bin #5. In the F mode, the number of copies of the sheafof the sheets for one bin can be changed according to the number of thestacking bins 31. For example, it is assumed that, in a sheaf oforiginals which mixedly include the originals on which color images wereformed respectively and the originals on which B/W images were formedrespectively, there are the five originals corresponding to color pages,the set number of output copies is four, and the number of usable binsis two. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12C, a sheaf (of the first copy)of the five sheets on which the first to fifth color images in the sheafof the originals were formed respectively and a sheaf (of the secondcopy) of the five sheets on which the first to fifth color images in thesheaf of the originals were formed respectively are output to the bin#1. Similarly, a sheaf (of the third copy) of the five sheets on whichthe first to fifth color images in the sheaf of the originals wereformed respectively and a sheaf (of the fourth copy) of the five sheetson which the first to fifth color images in the sheaf of the originalswere formed respectively are output to the bin #2.

Next, it will be explained with reference to FIGS. 38A to 38C how thecolor outputs being the insert sheets output in the S mode are subjectedto the insert process in the apparatus having the inserter.

For example, it is assumed that, in a sheaf of originals which mixedlyinclude the originals on which color images were formed respectively andthe originals on which B/W images were formed respectively, there arethe three originals corresponding to color pages, and the set number ofoutput copies is three. In this case, when the insert output process isperformed in the S mode, three sheets on which the color imagecorresponding to the first color original in the sheaf of the originalsmixedly including the color and B/W originals was formed respectivelyare discharged to the stacking bin #1 of the sheet discharge unit 30,three sheets on which the color image corresponding to the second colororiginal in the sheaf of the originals mixedly including the color andB/W originals was formed respectively are discharged to the stacking bin#2 of the sheet discharge unit 30, and three sheets on which the colorimage corresponding to the third color original in the sheaf of theoriginals mixedly including the color and B/W originals was formedrespectively are discharged to the stacking bin #3 of the sheetdischarge unit 30.

Then, the sheaf of the three sheets on which the color images wereformed stored in the stacking bin #1 of the sheet discharge unit 30 isset to the insert bin #1 of the inserter 104 b of the image formingapparatus 1001 b, the sheaf of the three sheets on which the colorimages were formed stored in the stacking bin #2 of the sheet dischargeunit 30 is set to the insert bin #2 of the inserter 104 b of the imageforming apparatus 1001 b, and the sheaf of the three sheets on which thecolor images were formed stored in the stacking bin #3 of the sheetdischarge unit 30 is set to the insert bin #3 of the inserter 104 b ofthe image forming apparatus 1001 b. At this time, the originals pmixedly including the color and B/W originals on the original stackingtray 50 are set to the original tray 52 b of the image forming apparatus1001 b. Then, when an insert processing mode is set on the operationunit 40 b, the S mode is selected, and the copy start key is depressed.Thus, the image forming is performed to the pages corresponding to theB/W originals in the sheaf of the originals, but any image forming isnot performed to the pages corresponding to the color originals.Instead, the color outputs are sequentially carried from the inserter104 b, and the color outputs and the B/W outputs are gathered.Incidentally, in the S mode, the sheets are fed from the inserter 104 bin the following manner. Namely, after one sheet is fed from one insertbin, one sheet is fed from a next insert bin. In other words, the sheetfeed origin is changed to the next insert bin every time one sheet isfed. When the sheet feed origin was changed to the last insert bin (atthis time, feed of the first set of the insert sheets completely ends),the sheet feed origin is returned to the first insert bin to gather thesecond copy. The above operation is repeated certain times correspondingto the set number of copies. This is the sheet feed method from theinserter in the S mode to be performed on the side of the apparatushaving the inserter.

Next, it will be explained with reference to FIGS. 38A to 38C how thecolor outputs being the insert sheets output in the F mode are subjectedto the insert process in the apparatus having the inserter.

For example, it is assumed that, in a sheaf of originals which mixedlyinclude the originals on which color images were formed respectively andthe originals on which B/W images were formed respectively, there arethe three originals corresponding to color pages, and the set number ofoutput copies is three. In this case, when the insert output process isperformed in the F mode, the sheaf (of the first copy) of three sheetsbeing a series of insert sheets on which the color images correspondingto the first to third color originals in the sheaf of the originalsmixedly including the color and B/W originals were formed respectivelyare discharged to the stacking bin #1 of the sheet discharge unit 30 ofthe image forming apparatus 1000. Similarly, the sheaf (of the secondcopy) of three sheets being a series of insert sheets on which the colorimages corresponding to the first to third color originals in the sheafof the originals mixedly including the color and B/W originals wereformed respectively are discharged to the stacking bin #2 of the sheetdischarge unit 30, and the sheaf (of the third copy) of three sheetsbeing a series of insert sheets on which the color images correspondingto the first to third color originals in the sheaf of the originalsmixedly including the color and B/W originals were formed respectivelyare discharged to the stacking bin #3 of the sheet discharge unit 30.

Then, the sheaf of the three sheets on which the color images of themutually different pages were respectively formed stored in the stackingbin #1 of the sheet discharge unit 30 is set by the user to the insertbin #1 of the inserter 104 b of the image forming apparatus 1001 b, thesheaf of the three sheets on which the color images of the mutuallydifferent pages were respectively formed stored in the stacking bin #2of the sheet discharge unit 30 is set to the insert bin #2 of theinserter 104 b of the image forming apparatus 1001 b, and the sheaf ofthe three sheets on which the color images of the mutually differentpages were respectively formed stored in the stacking bin #3 of thesheet discharge unit 30 is set to the insert bin #3 of the inserter 104b of the image forming apparatus 1001 b. At this time, the originals pmixedly including the color and B/W originals on the original stackingtray 50 are set to the original tray 52 b of the image forming apparatus1001 b. Then, when the insert processing mode is set on the operationunit 40 b, the F mode is selected, and the copy start key is depressed.Thus, the image forming is performed to the pages corresponding to theB/W originals in the sheaf of the originals, but any image forming isnot performed to the pages corresponding to the color originals.Instead, the color outputs are sequentially carried from the inserter104 b, and the color outputs and the B/W outputs are gathered.Incidentally, in the F mode, the sheets are fed from the inserter 104 bin the following manner. Namely, after the three sheets are fed from oneinsert bin, the three sheets are fed from the next (second) insert bin,and then the three sheets are fed from the next (third) insert bin. Inother words, until the series of insert sheets existing in one insertbin and to be gathered as one sheaf are entirely fed, it is controllednot to change the sheet feed origin to the next bin. Then, after theseries of insert sheets were entirely fed, the sheet feed origin ischanged to the next bin. However, in the F mode, as shown in FIG. 12C,when the plural serieses of insert sheets are stacked in one insert bin,it is controlled not to change the sheet feed origin to the next insertbin until all the sheets in the insert bin are fed Then, after all thesheets in the insert bin were fed, the sheet feed origin is changed tothe next insert bin. This is the sheet feed method from the inserter inthe F mode to be performed on the side of the apparatus having theinserter.

Next, the insert output mode in the present embodiment will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. It should be noted that the insertoutput mode is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 200.

In FIG. 9, it is first judged in a step S31 whether or not the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S32 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the number of output copies according to the kind ofinserter is set. Then, the flow advances to a step S33 to set the modeor the F mode in the insert output mode according as either the softwarekey 640 or 641 is depressed, whereby the insert output mode is set.

Next, the flow advances to a step S34 to wait for the depression of thestart key 614. Conversely, if judged in the step S31 that the insertsheet making mode key 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over thesteps S32 and S33 and advances to the step S34 to wait for thedepression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S35 tojudge whether or not a color original discrimination mode is set. Ifjudged that the color original discrimination mode is not set, theapparatus is considered to perform an ordinary copying operation, andthe flow advances to a step S38. In this step, the original p is carriedone by one in due order from the original stacking tray 50 to theoriginal mounting board glass 78, and the carried original is read. In anext step S39, the image of the read original is stored in a memory.Then, it is judged in a step S40 whether or not the image forming of thelast original ends. If judged that the image forming of the lastoriginal does not end, the flow returns to the step S35 to read the nextoriginal. Conversely, if judged in the step S40 that the image formingof the last original ends, the flow advances to a step S41.

Conversely, if judged in the step S35 that the color originaldiscrimination mode is set, the flow advances to a step S36 to startfeeding the original from the ADF 51 and perform original prereading.The original prereading is to judge in response to the output from theoriginal discrimination sensor provided on the ADF 51 whether or not thefed original is a color original. If judged in a step S37 that the fedoriginal is the color original, this original is considered to be read,and the flow advances to a step S38 to read the image of this originaland store it in a memory in the step S39. Then, the flow advances to thestep S40 to judge whether or not the reading of the last original ends.If judged that the reading of the last original does not end, the flowreturns to the step S35. If judged in the step S37 that the fed originalis not the color original, the flow skips over the steps S38 and S39 andadvances to the step S40. Namely, the original which was judged in thestep S37 to be not the color original is not subjected to the readingand is directly discharged. After the reading of the last originalended, the flow advances to the step S41.

It is judged in the step S41 whether or not the insert output mode isselected. If judged that the insert output mode is not selected, theflow advances to a step S43 to sequentially read the images stored inthe memory, perform the image forming on the sheets, and output thesesheets to the bin unit 5. Then, in a step S44, it is judged whether ornot the job ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow returnsto the step S43. Conversely, if judged in the step S44 that the jobends, the flow returns to the step S31.

If judged in the step S41 that the insert output mode is set, the flowadvances to a step 842 to judge whether or not the S mode is set. Ifjudged that the S mode is set, the flow advances to a step S45 shown inFIG. 10. In the step S45, an original counter, a sheet discharge bindesignation counter, a sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheetscounter (i.e., the counter for counting the number of sheets stored inthe sheet discharge bin) and an inserter the number of output sheetscounter (i.e., the counter for counting the number of sheets output tothe inserter) are all cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S46 to perform increment of theoriginal counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S47 to performthe image printing for the original of the ordinal number correspondingto the value counted by the original counter. Then, the flow advances toa step S48 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin the number ofstorage sheets counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S49 toperform increment of the inserter the number of output sheets counter by“1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S50 to judge whether or not the job inthe insert output mode ends. If judged that the job does not end, theflow advances to a step S52 to judge whether or not the value counted bythe inserter the number of output sheets counter coincides with the setnumeral (i.e., the number of output sheets determined according to thekind of inserter set in the step S32). If judged that the counted valuedoes not coincide with the set numeral, the flow advances to a step S53to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter coincides with the number of sheetsstorable in one bin. If judged that the value counted by the sheetdischarge bin the number of storage sheets counter does not coincidewith the number of sheets storable in one bin, the flow returns to thestep S47 to continue the image printing for the original of the ordinalnumber corresponding to the value counted by the original counter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S53 that the value counted bythe sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincideswith the number of sheets storable in one bin, it is considered that thesheet on which the image printing for the original of the ordinal numbercorresponding to the value counted by the original counter was performedcan not be stacked in the current stacking bin. Thus, the flow advancesto a step S54 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bindesignation counter by “1” to designate a next stacking bin. Then, in astep S55, the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counteris cleared and set to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S47.

If judged in the step S52 that the value counted by the inserter thenumber of output sheets counter coincides with the set numeral, the flowadvances to a step S56 to clear and set the inserter the number ofoutput sheets counter to “0”, the flow advances to a step S57 to clearand set the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter to“0”, the flow advances to a step S58 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1”, and the flow returns to thestep S46 to perform the printing for the image of the original of thenext ordinal number.

If judged in the step S50 that the job ends, the flow advances to a stepS59 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to the stepS31.

If judged in the step S42 that the F mode is set, the flow advances to astep S60 shown in FIG. 11. In the step S60, the original counter, thesheet discharge bin designation counter, the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter and the inserter the number of outputsheets counter are respectively cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S61 to judge whether or not the valuecounted by the original counter coincides with the number of originals.If judged that the counted value coincides with the number of originals,the flow advances to a step S62 to clear and set the original counter to“0”, and the flow advances to a step S63. Conversely, if judged that thecounted value does not coincide with the number of originals, the flowskips over the step S62 and advances to the step S63.

In the step S63, increment of the original counter is performed by “1”,and in a next step S64, the image printing for the original of theordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter is performed. Then, the flow advances to a step S65 to performincrement of the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheetscounter by “1”, and further advances to a step S66 to perform incrementof the inserter the number of output sheets counter by “1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S67 to judge whether or not the job inthe insert output mode ends. If judged that the job does not end, theflow advances to a step S68 to judge whether or not the value counted bythe inserter the number of output sheets counter coincides with thenumber of inserter storage-scheduled sheets (i.e., the number of outputsheets determined according to the kind of inserter set in the stepS32). If judged that the counted value does not coincide with the numberof inserter storage-scheduled sheets, the flow advances to a step S69 tojudge whether or not the value counted by the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter coincides with the number of sheetdischarge bin storable sheets. If judged that the counted value does notcoincide with the number of sheet discharge bin storable sheets, theflow returns to the step S61 to continue the image printing for theoriginal of the ordinal number corresponding to the value counted by theoriginal counter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S69 that the counted valuecoincides with the number of sheet discharge bin storable sheets, it isconsidered that the sheet on which the image printing for the originalof the ordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter was performed can not be stacked in the current stacking bin.Thus, the flow advances to a step S70 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1” to designate a next stackingbin. Then, in a step S71, the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter is cleared and set to “0”, and the flow returns to thestep S61.

If judged in the step S68 that the value counted by the inserter thenumber of output sheets counter coincides with the number of inserterstorage-scheduled sheets, it is considered that the sheets of thepredetermined number are output to one stacking bin, and the flowadvances to a step S72 to clear and set the inserter the number ofoutput sheets counter to “0”, the flow advances to a step S73 to clearand set the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter to“0”, the flow advances to a step S74 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1”, and the flow returns to thestep S61.

If judged in the step S67 that the job ends, the flow advances to a stepS75 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to the stepS31.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possibleto obtain the sheet output used as the insert sheet suitable for theinserter without delay.

In the insert output mode of the present embodiment, it is controlled toperform the image forming only for the color pages in the originalsmixedly including the color and B/W originals but not to perform theimage forming for the B/W pages. This is because the image formingapparatus 1000 of the present embodiment is the image forming apparatuswhich has the color image forming unit capable of forming a color imageon a sheet. Therefore, in a case where the image forming apparatus whichhas the B/W image forming unit forming a B/W image on a sheet is appliedas another form, it may be controlled in a step S85 of FIG. 13 that theflow advances to a step S87 if the original is judged to be the colororiginal, while the flow advances to a step S86 if the original isjudged to be the B/W original. Then, in the step S89, it may becontrolled that the B/W image forming is performed for the originalscorresponding to the B/W pages. Thus, the present invention isapplicable to the B/W image forming apparatus.

[Third Embodiment]

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing theprocedure of the insert output mode in the image forming apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14is a flow chart showing the procedure of the F/S mode discriminationprocess in a step S88 of FIG. 13.

In the present embodiment, it is judged whether or not the S mode can beexecuted, on the basis of the number of read originals and the insertertray number information obtained from the selected kind of inserter. Ifjudged that the S mode can not be executed, the F mode is set.Conversely, if judged that the S mode can be executed, it is furtherjudged whether or not both the S mode and the F mode can be executed. Ifjudged that both the modes can be executed, the F mode is preferentiallyset.

It might be the following as the situation not to be able to execute theS mode. For example, in FIGS. 38A to 38C, in a sheaf of originals whichmixedly include the originals on which color images were formedrespectively and the originals on which B/W images were formedrespectively, there are the three originals corresponding to colorpages, and the set number of output copies is three. In this case, whenthe insert output process is performed in the S mode, the process in theS mode is performed as the insert process on the side of the apparatushaving the inserter, whereby the inserter which has at least threeinserter bins is necessary. Therefore, when the insert process isperformed with use of the inserter 104 a of the image forming apparatus1001 a, the S mode is unsuitable for the insert output mode on the sideof the image forming apparatus 1000, whereby it is considered that the Smode can not be executed. On the other hand, when the insert process isperformed with use of the inserter 104 b of the image forming apparatus1001 b, since the inserter 104 b has the three inserter bins, it isconsidered that the S mode can be executed as the insert output mode onthe side of the image forming apparatus 1000. In the F mode, a series ofinsert sheets is stacked in one insert bin, and a gathering process canbe performed in the state that the plural serieses of insert sheets arebeing stacked in one insert bin, whereby the F mode can be executed evenif the inserter 104 a of the image forming apparatus 1001 a is used orthe inserter 104 b of the image forming apparatus 1001 b is used.Therefore, it is permitted to execute the F mode as the insert outputmode on the side of the image forming apparatus 1000.

The insert output mode will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and14. It should be noted that the insert output mode is controlled by theCPU circuit unit 200. Here, the insert output mode to read only thecolor original will be explained.

In FIG. 13, it is first judged in a step S81 whether or not the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S82 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the insert output mode is set. Then, the flowadvances to a step S83 to wait for the depression of the start key 614.Conversely, if judged in the step S81 that the insert sheet making modekey 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over the step S82 and advancesto the step S83 to wait for the depression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S84 tojudge whether or not the insert output mode is set. If judged that theinsert output mode is not set, the apparatus is considered to perform anordinary copying operation, and the flow advances to a step S90. In thisstep, the original p is carried one by one in due order from theoriginal stacking tray 50 to the original mounting board glass 78, andthe carried original is read. In a next step S91, the image forming ofthe read original is performed, and it is judged in a step S92 whetheror not the image forming of the last original ends. If judged that theimage forming of the last original does not end, the flow returns to thestep S90 to read the next original. Conversely, if judged that the imageforming of the last original ends, the process ends.

If judged in the step S84 that the insert output mode is set, the flowadvances to a step S85 to start feed of the original from the ADF 51 andjudge in response to the output from the original discrimination sensorprovided on the ADF 51 whether or not the fed original is a colororiginal. If judged that the fed original is the color original, thisoriginal is considered to be read, i.e., the page to be subjected to theimage forming in the insert output mode, and the flow advances to a stepS86 to read the image of this original and store it in a memory. Then,the flow advances to a step S87 to judge whether or not the reading ofthe last original ends. If judged that the reading of the last originaldoes not end, the flow returns to the step S85 to start feed of the nextoriginal and judge whether or not the fed original is a color original.Conversely, if judged that the reading of the last original ends, theflow advances to a step S88 to perform an F/S mode discriminationprocess. In this process, it is discriminated which of the S mode andthe F mode can be executed, and the discriminated mode is set. Thedetail of the F/S mode discrimination process will be described later.

Then, the flow advances to a step S89 to perform the printing operationin the mode set in the step S88 (i.e., the color image forming isperformed in the color output mode of the present embodiment). Here,when the S mode is being set, the sheets S of the same page in thesheets of the number of copies set according to the kind of inserter areoutput to the identical stacking bin 31. When the F mode is being set,the sheets S of the set number of copies are sorted and output to eachstacking bin 31 in the unit of the number of copies. The details ofthese modes were described in the second embodiment.

Next, the F/S mode discrimination process will be explained withreference to FIG. 14.

In the F/S mode discrimination process, as shown in FIG. 14, it is firstjudged in a step S101 whether or not the number of inserter binsobtained in the selection of the kind of inserter by the user throughthe screen of FIG. 5 in the insert output mode is smaller than thenumber of originals read for the image forming in the insert output mode(i.e., the number of stacking bins of the bin unit 5 used in the S mode(or the number of color originals in the originals mixedly including thecolor and B/W originals)). If judged that the number of inserter bins issmaller than the number of read originals, it is considered that the Smode can not be executed because the number of stacking bins is smallerthan the number (or page number) of sheets on which the read images wereformed respectively, and thus the flow advances to a step S102 to setthe F mode. Then, it is judged in a step S104 whether or not both the Sand F modes can be executed. In this case, since the S mode can not beexecuted, it is judged that both the S and F modes can not be executed,and the process ends. Thus, when the S mode can not be executed, the Fmode is set.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S101 that the number ofinserter bins is not smaller than the number of read originals, it isconsidered that the S mode can be executed because the number ofstacking bins is equal to or larger than the number of sheets on whichthe read images were formed respectively, and thus the flow advances toa step S103 to set either one of the S and F modes on the basis of theinformation obtained from the set kind of inserter. Then, it is judgedin the step S104 whether or not both the S and F modes can be executed.If judged that both the S and F modes can not be executed, the processends Thus, the mode set in the step S103 is set. Conversely, if judgedthat both the S and F modes can be executed, the flow advances to a stepS105 to set the F mode, and the process ends. Thus, when both the S andF modes can be executed, the F mode is preferentially set irrespectiveof the mode set in the step S103.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the numberof inserter bins in the inserter actually used in the insert process issmaller than the number of originals read for the image forming in theinsert output mode (i.e., the number of stacking bins of the bin unit 5used in the S mode (or the number of color originals in the originalsmixedly including the color and B/W originals)), it is possible toprevent beforehand that the sheets of different pages are erroneouslystacked in the stacking bin which should essentially stack the sheets ofthe same page in the S mode. Further, it is unnecessary to select the Sor F mode in consideration of the relation between the number ofinserter bins obtain in the selection of the kind of inserter and thenumber of read originals (i.e., the number of stacking bins in the binunit 5 used in the S mode), whereby erroneous mode selection can beprevented beforehand.

[Fourth Embodiment]

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the procedureof the F/S mode discrimination process in the insert output mode in theimage forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

The present embodiment is different from the third embodiment in thepoint that, it is first judged whether or not both the S and F modes canbe executed, and then the S mode is preferentially set if judged thatboth the S and F modes can be executed

Since the procedure of the inset output mode in the present embodimentis substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 13, the explanationthereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, only the F/S modediscrimination process different from that in the third embodiment willbe explained hereinafter.

In the F/S mode discrimination process of the present embodiment, asshown in FIG. 15, it is first judged in a step S111 whether or not thenumber of inserter bins obtained in the selection of the kind ofinserter by the user through the screen of FIG. 5 in the insert outputmode is smaller than the number of originals read for the image formingin the insert output mode (i.e., the number of stacking bins of the binunit 5 used in the S mode (or the number of color originals in theoriginals mixedly including the color and B/W originals)). If judgedthat the number of inserter bins is smaller than the number of readoriginals, it is considered that the S mode can not be executed becausethe number of stacking bins is smaller than the number (or page number)of sheets on which the read images were formed respectively, and thusthe flow advances to a step S112 to set the F mode. Then, it is judgedin a step S114 whether or not both the S and F modes can be executed. Inthis case, since the S mode can not be executed, it is judged that boththe S and F modes can not be executed, and the process ends. Thus, whenthe S mode can not be executed, the F mode is set.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S111 that the number ofinserter bins is not smaller than the number of read originals, it isconsidered that the S mode can be executed because the number ofstacking bins is equal to or larger than the number of sheets on whichthe read images were formed respectively, and thus the flow advances toa step S113 to set either one of the S and F modes on the basis of theinformation obtained from the set kind of inserter. Then, it is judgedin the step S114 whether or not both the S and F modes can be executed.If judged that both the S and F modes can not be executed, the processends. Thus, the mode set in the step S113 is set. Conversely, if judgedthat both the S and F modes can be executed, the flow advances to a stepS115 to set the S mode, and the process ends. Thus, when both the S andF modes can be executed, the S mode is preferentially set irrespectiveof the mode set in the step S113.

[Fifth Embodiment]

Next, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the procedureof the F/S mode discrimination process in the insert output mode in theimage forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

The present embodiment is different from the third embodiment in thepoint that, when the S mode can be executed, either one of the S and Fmodes is automatically selected and set.

Since the procedure of the insert output mode in the present embodimentis substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 13, the explanationthereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, only the F/S modediscrimination process different from that in the third embodiment willbe explained hereinafter.

In the F/S mode discrimination process of the present embodiment, asshown in FIG. 16, it is first judged in a step S121 whether or not thenumber of inserter bins obtained in the selection of the kind ofinserter by the user through the screen of FIG. 5 in the insert outputmode is smaller than the number of originals read for the image formingin the insert output mode (i.e., the number of stacking bins of the binunit 5 used in the S mode (or the number of color originals in theoriginals mixedly including the color and B/W originals)). If judgedthat the number of inserter bins is smaller than the number of readoriginals, it is considered that the S mode can not be executed becausethe number of stacking bins is smaller than the number (or page number)of sheets on which the read images were formed respectively, the flowthus advances to a step S122 to set the F mode, and the process ends.Thus, when the S mode can not be executed, the F mode is set.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S121 that the number ofinserter bins is not smaller than the number of read originals, it isconsidered that the S mode can be executed because the number ofstacking bins is equal to or larger than the number of sheets on whichthe read images were formed respectively, the flow thus advances to astep S123 to set either one of the S and F modes on the basis of theinformation obtained from the set kind of inserter, and the processends. Thus, either one of the S and F modes is set.

[Sixth Embodiment]

Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 18, 19, 20 and 21. FIGS. 17A to17C are diagrams showing an example that a head mark is affixed orappended in the insert output mode in the image forming apparatusaccording to the sixth embodiment, and FIGS. 18 to 21 are flow chartsshowing the procedure of the insert output mode in the image formingapparatus according to the sixth embodiment.

The present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in thepoint that the function to affix the head mark to the sheetcorresponding to the first page of the sheets output as the insertsheets in the insert output mode is provided.

Concretely, in a case where originals which mixedly include the first,second and third pages of color originals and the remaining pages of B/Woriginals are processed in the insert output mode, for example, as shownin FIG. 17A, if three originals p1 to p3 (corresponding to the colororiginals included in the originals mixedly including the color and B/Woriginals) are read in due order, the images of the originals p1 to p3are stored in a memory in the reading order. At this time, head markdata (or head image mark data) is affixed to a predetermined position ofthe image of the read original p1 (i.e., the top of the image in thiscase), and the image data and the affixed mark data are together storedin the memory. This head mark data is the data prestored in the memory.Then, after the reading of the last original p3 ended, the imagecorresponding to the last page (i.e., the image of the original p3) isread from the memory, the read image is formed with color on a sheet,and this sheet is output to the stacking bin 31 determined in the setmode (the S or F mode). Next, the image corresponding to the previouspage of the last page (i.e., the image of the original p2) is read, theread image is formed with color on a sheet, and the sheet on which thisread image was formed is put on the sheet of the last page on thestacking bin 31. Next, the image corresponding to the first page (i.e.,the image of the original p1) is read, the read image is formed withcolor on a sheet, and this sheet is put uppermost on the sheaf of thesheets on the stacking bin 31. Since the head mark data has been affixedto the image data corresponding to the first page (first page), an image(i.e., a mark “▪”) represented by the head mark data is affixed at thetop of a sheet S1 as shown in FIG. 17B. Of course, the image representedby the head mark data is not affixed to sheets S2 and S3 correspondingto other pages.

Thus, the sheet corresponding to the first page includes the imagerepresenting that this sheet corresponds to the first page, whereby thefirst-page sheet can be well discriminated in the sheaf of sheets outputin the S or F mode. Thus, when the sheaf of sheets is set to theinserter, this sheaf can be set on the basis of the discriminablefirst-page sheet, whereby the user can set the sheets withoutmisarrangement in the page order.

Further, the above explanation is directed to the case where the headmark data is affixed to the position corresponding to the top of thesheet in the image data. However, as shown in FIG. 17C, the position ofthe head mark data and the number thereof can be changed. In this case,it is preferable to change the position and the number of the head markdata on the basis of the information representing the kind of inserter.For example, in a case where an insert sheet is set to the inserter onthe basis of the trailing edge of this sheet, the head mark can beaffixed to the trailing edge (i.e., the bottom) of the sheet of thefirst page. Thus, it is possible to affix the head mark to the positionsuitable for a form that the insert sheet is set to the inserter.Further, it is possible to affix the head mark to the back face of thesheet, instead of the front face (i.e., the image forming face) of thesheet.

Next, the insert output mode in the present embodiment will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 18 to 21. It should be noted that the insertoutput mode is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 200.

In FIG. 18, it is first judged in a step S131 whether or not the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S132 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the number of output copies according to the kind ofinserter is set. Then, the flow advances to a step S133 to set the Smode or the F mode in the insert output mode according as either thesoftware key 640 or 641 is depressed, whereby the insert output mode isset.

Next, the flow advances to a step S134 to wait for the depression of thestart key 614. Conversely, if judged in the step S131 that the insertsheet making mode key 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over thesteps S132 and S133 and advances to the step S134 to wait for thedepression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S135 toclear and set the original counter to “0”, and further advances to astep S136 to judge whether or not the color original discrimination modeis set to read only the color original being the image forming target inthe insert output mode. If judged that the color original discriminationmode is not set, the apparatus is considered to perform an ordinarycopying operation, and the flow advances to a step S139. In this step,the original p is carried one by one in due order from the originalstacking tray 50 to the original mounting board glass 78, and thecarried original is read. In a next step S140 shown in FIG. 19, it isjudged whether or not the insert output mode is selected. Since theinsert output mode is not set in this case, the flow advances to a stepS143 to store the image of the read original in a memory, and furtheradvances to a step S144 to perform increment of the original counter by“1”. Then, it is judged in a step S145 whether or not the image formingof the last original ends. If judged that the image forming of the lastoriginal does not end, the flow returns to the step S136 to read thenext original. Conversely, if judged in the step S145 that the imageforming of the last original ends, the flow advances to a step S146.

If judged in the step S136 that the color original discrimination modeis set, the flow advances to a step S137 to perform original prereadingto judge in response to the output from the original discriminationsensor provided on the ADF 51 whether or not the fed original is a colororiginal. On the basis of the result of the original prereading, ifjudged in a step S138 that the fed original is the color original, thisoriginal is considered to be read, and the flow advances to a step S139to read the image of this original. Then, the flow advances to the stepS140 of FIG. 19 to judge whether or not the insert output mode isselected. If judged that the insert output mode is selected, the flowadvances to a step S141 to judge whether or not the count value of theoriginal counter is “0”. If judged that the count value of the originalcounter is “0”, this original is considered to be the originalcorresponding to the first page, and the flow advances to a step S142 toaffix the head mark data to the image data. In the next step S143, theimage data added with the head mark data is stored in the memory, andthe flow advances to the step S144 to perform increment of the originalcounter by “1”. Then, it is judged in the step S145 whether or not theimage forming of the last original ends. If judged that the imageforming of the last original does not end, the flow returns to the stepS136 to judge whether or not the color original discrimination mode isset.

If judged in the step S138 that the original is not the color original,the flow skips over the steps S139 to S144 and advances to the step5145. Namely, the original judged to be not the color original is notsubjected to the reading but is discharge as it is. After the reading ofthe last original ended, the flow advances to the step S146.

It is judged in the step S146 whether or not the insert output mode isselected. If judged that the insert output mode is not selected, theflow advances to a step S148 to sequentially read the images stored inthe memory, perform the image forming on the sheets, and output thesesheets to the bin unit 5. Then, in a step S149, it is judged whether ornot the job ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow returnsto the step S148. Conversely, if judged in the step S149 that the jobends, the flow returns to the step S131 (FIG. 18).

If judged in the step S146 that the insert output mode is set, the flowadvances to a step S147 to judge whether or not the S mode is set. Ifjudged that the S mode is set, the flow advances to a step S150 shown inFIG. 20. In the step S150, the original counter, the sheet discharge bindesignation counter, the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter (i.e., the counter for counting the number of sheetsstored in the sheet discharge bin) and the inserter the number of outputsheets counter (i.e., the counter for counting the number of sheetsoutput to the inserter) are all cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S152 to perform increment of theoriginal counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S153 to performthe image printing for the original of the ordinal number correspondingto the value counted by the original counter. Then, the flow advances toa step S154 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin the numberof storage sheets counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S155 toperform increment of the inserter the number of output sheets counter by“1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S156 to judge whether or not the jobin the insert output mode ends. If judged that the job does not end, theflow advances to a step S157 to judge whether or not the value countedby the inserter the number of output sheets counter coincides with theset numeral (i.e., the number of output sheets determined according tothe kind of inserter set in the step S132). If judged that the countedvalue does not coincide with the set numeral, the flow advances to astep S158 to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheetdischarge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincides with thenumber of sheets storable in one bin. If judged that the value countedby the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter does notcoincide with the number of sheets storable in one bin, the flow returnsto the step S153 to continue the image printing for the original of theordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S158 that the value counted bythe sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincideswith the number of sheets storable in one bin, it is considered that thesheet on which the image printing for the original of the ordinal numbercorresponding to the value counted by the original counter was performedcan not be stacked in the current stacking bin. Thus, the flow advancesto a step S159 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bindesignation counter by “1” to designate a next stacking bin. Then, in astep S160, the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counteris cleared and set to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S153.

If judged in the step S157 that the value counted by the inserter thenumber of output sheets counter coincides with the set numeral, the flowadvances to a step S161 to clear and set the inserter the number ofoutput sheets counter to “0”, the flow advances to a step S162 to clearand set the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter to“0”, the flow advances to a step S163 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1”, and the flow returns to thestep S152 to perform the printing for the image of the original of thenext ordinal number.

If judged in the step S156 that the job ends, the flow advances to astep S164 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to thestep S131.

If judged in the step S147 that the F mode is set, the flow advances toa step S164 shown in FIG. 11. In the step S164, the original counter,the sheet discharge bin designation counter, the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter and the inserter the number of outputsheets counter are respectively cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S165 to judge whether or not the valuecounted by the original counter coincides with the number of originals.If judged that the counted value coincides with the number of originals,the flow advances to a step S166 to clear and set the original counterto “0”, and the flow advances to a step S167. Conversely, if judged thatthe counted value does not coincide with the number of originals, theflow skips over the step S167 and advances to a step S168.

In the step S168, increment of the original counter is performed by “1”,and in a next step S169, the image printing for the original of theordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter is performed. Then, the flow advances to a step S170 to performincrement of the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheetscounter by “1”, and further advances to a step S171 to perform incrementof the inserter the number of output sheets counter by “1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S171 to judge whether or not the jobin the insert output mode ends. If judged that the job does not end, theflow advances to a step S173 to judge whether or not the value countedby the inserter the number of output sheets counter coincides with thenumber of inserter storage-scheduled sheets (i.e., the number of outputsheets determined according to the kind of inserter set in the stepS132). If judged that the counted value does not coincide with thenumber of inserter storage-scheduled sheets, the flow advances to a stepS174 to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheet dischargebin the number of storage sheets counter coincides with the number ofsheet discharge bin storable sheets. If judged that the counted valuedoes not coincide with the number of sheet discharge bin storablesheets, the flow returns to the step S165 to continue the image printingfor the original of the ordinal number corresponding to the valuecounted by the original counter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S69 that the counted valuecoincides with the number of sheet discharge bin storable sheets, it isconsidered that the sheet on which the image printing for the originalof the ordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter was performed can not be stacked in the current stacking bin.Thus, the flow advances to a step S175 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1” to designate a next stackingbin. Then, in a step S176, the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter is cleared and set to “0”, and the flow returns to thestep S165.

If judged in the step S173 that the value counted by the inserter thenumber of output sheets counter coincides with the number of inserterstorage-scheduled sheets, it is considered that the sheets of thepredetermined number are output to one stacking bin, and the flowadvances to a step S177 to clear and set the inserter the number ofoutput sheets counter to “0”, the flow advances to a step S178 to clearand set the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter to“0”, the flow advances to a step S179 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1”, and the flow returns to thestep S165.

If judged in the step S171 that the job ends, the flow advances to astep S172 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to thestep S131.

[Seventh Embodiment]

Next, the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. FIGS. 22 to 26 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the insert output mode in the imageforming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment.

The present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in thepoint that execution of the insert output mode is temporarily stoppedevery time outputting of one of the output copies set according to theinformation representing the kind of inserter ends, and then theexecution of the insert output mode is restarted according to thedepression of the start key.

In the insert output mode according to the present embodiment, as shownin FIG. 22, it is first judged in a step S181 whether or not the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S182 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the number of output copies according to the kind ofinserter is set. Then, the flow advances to a step S183 to set the Smode or the F mode in the insert output mode according as either thesoftware key 640 or 641 is depressed, whereby the insert output mode isset.

Next, the flow advances to a step S184 to wait for the depression of thestart key 614. Conversely, if judged in the step S181 that the insertsheet making mode key 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over thesteps S182 and S183 and advances to the step S184 to wait for thedepression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S185 tojudge whether or not the color original discrimination mode is set.Here, the color original discrimination mode is to discriminate whetherthe original is a color original, in response to the output from theoriginal discrimination sensor provided on the ADF 51. If judged thatthe color original discrimination mode is not set, the apparatus isconsidered to perform an ordinary copying operation, and the flowadvances to a step S188. In this step, the original p is carried one byone in due order from the original stacking tray 50 to the originalmounting board glass 78, and the carried original is read. In a nextstep S189, the image of the read original is stored in a memory. Then,it is judged in a step S190 whether or not the image forming of the lastoriginal ends. If judged that the image forming of the last originaldoes not end, the flow returns to the step S185 to read the nextoriginal. Conversely, if judged that the image forming of the lastoriginal ends, the flow advances to a step S191.

Conversely, if judged in the step S185 that the color originaldiscrimination mode is set, the flow advances to a step S186 to startfeeding the original from the ADF 51 and perform original prereading.The original prereading is to judge in response to the output from theoriginal discrimination sensor provided on the ADF 51 whether or not thefed original is the color original. If judged in a step S187 that thefed original is the color original, this original is considered to beread, and the flow advances to the step S188 to read the image of thisoriginal and store it in the memory in the step 5189. Then, the flowadvances to the step S190 to judge whether or not the reading of thelast original ends. If judged that the reading of the last original doesnot end, the flow returns to the step S185 to perform the feed of thenext original and the color original discrimination.

If judged in the step S187 that the fed original is not the colororiginal, the flow skips over the steps S186 and S187 and advances tothe step S190. Namely, the original which was judged to be not the colororiginal is not subjected to the reading and is directly discharged.After the reading of the last original ended, the flow advances to thestep S191.

It is judged in the step S191 whether or not the insert output mode isselected. If judged that the insert output mode is not selected, theflow advances to a step S193 to sequentially read the images stored inthe memory, perform the image forming on the sheets, and output thesesheets to the bin unit 5. Then, in a step S194, it is judged whether ornot the job ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow returnsto the step S193. Conversely, if judged that the job ends, the flowreturns to the step S181.

If judged in the step S191 that the insert output mode is set, the flowadvances to a step S192 to judge whether or not the S mode is set. Ifjudged that the S mode is set, the flow advances to a step S195 shown inFIG. 23. In the step S195, the original counter, the sheet discharge bindesignation counter, the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter and the inserter the number of output sheets counter areall cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S196 to perform increment of theoriginal counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S197 to performthe image printing for the original of the ordinal number correspondingto the value counted by the original counter. Then, the flow advances toa step S198 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin the numberof storage sheets counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S199 toperform increment of the inserter the number of output sheets counter by“1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S200 to judge whether or not the jobin the insert output mode ends. If judged that the job does not end, theflow advances to a step S201 to judge whether or not the value countedby the inserter the number of output sheets counter coincides with theset numeral (i.e., the number of output sheets determined according tothe kind of inserter set in the step S182). If judged that the countedvalue does not coincide with the set numeral, the flow advances to astep S202 to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheetdischarge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincides with thenumber of sheets storable in one bin. If judged that the value countedby the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter does notcoincide with the number of sheets storable in one bin, the flow returnsto the step S197 to continue the image printing for the original of theordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S202 that the value counted bythe sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincideswith the number of sheets storable in one bin, it is considered that thesheet on which the image printing for the original of the ordinal numbercorresponding to the value counted by the original counter was performedcan not be stacked in the current stacking bin. Thus, the flow advancesto a step S203 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bindesignation counter by “1” to designate a next stacking bin Then, in astep S204, the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counteris cleared and set to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S197.

If judged in the step S201 that the value counted by the inserter thenumber of output sheets counter coincides with the set numeral, it isconsidered that output of the sheaf of the sheets of one copy ended, andthe flow advances to a step S205 shown in FIG. 24 to stop the printingoperation and wait for the depression of the start key 614. If the startkey 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S206 to judge whetheror not the sheet exists in the sheet discharge bin. If judged that thesheet exists in the sheet discharge bin, it is considered that the sheetremains in the current sheet discharge bin, and the flow advances to astep S207 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin designationcounter by “1”. Then, the flow advances to a step S209 to clear and setthe inserter the number of output sheets counter to “0”, the flowadvances to a step S210 to clear and set the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter to “0”, and the flow returns to thestep S196. Conversely, if judged in the step S206 that the sheet doesnot exist in the current sheet discharge bin, it is considered that asheet can be discharged to the current sheet discharge bin, the flowadvances to a step S208 to clear and set the sheet discharge bindesignation counter to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S196through the steps S209 and S210.

If judged in the step S200 that the job ends, the flow advances to astep S211 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to thestep S181.

If judged in the step S192 that the F mode is set, the flow advances toa step S212 shown in FIG. 25. In this step, the original counter, thesheet discharge bin designation counter, the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter and the inserter the number of outputsheets counter are respectively cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S213 to judge whether or not the valuecounted by the original counter coincides with the number of originals.If judged that the counted value coincides with the number of originals,the flow advances to a step S214 to clear and set the original counterto “0”, and the flow advances to a step S215. Conversely, if judged thatthe counted value does not coincide with the number of originals, theflow skips over the step S214 and advances to the step S215.

In the step S215, increment of the original counter is performed by “1”,and in a next step S216, the image printing for the original of theordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter is performed. Then, the flow advances to a step S217 to performincrement of the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheetscounter by “1”, and further advances to a step S218 to perform incrementof the inserter the number of output sheets counter by “1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S219 to judge whether or not the jobin the insert output mode ends. If judged that the job does not end, theflow advances to a step S220 to judge whether or not the value countedby the inserter the number of output sheets counter coincides with thenumber of inserter storage-scheduled sheets (i.e., the number of outputsheets determined according to the kind of inserter set in the stepS182). If judged that the counted value does not coincide with thenumber of inserter storage-scheduled sheets, the flow advances to a stepS221 to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheet dischargebin the number of storage sheets counter coincides with the number ofsheet discharge bin storable sheets. If judged that the counted valuedoes not coincide with the number of sheet discharge bin storablesheets, the flow returns to the step S213 to continue the image printingfor the original of the ordinal number corresponding to the valuecounted by the original counter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S221 that the counted valuecoincides with the number of sheet discharge bin storable sheets, it isconsidered that the sheet on which the image printing for the originalof the ordinal number corresponding to the value counted by the originalcounter was performed can not be stacked in the current stacking bin.Thus, the flow advances to a step S222 to perform increment of the sheetdischarge bin designation counter by “1” to designate a next stackingbin. Then, in a step S223, the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter is cleared and set to “0”, and the flow returns to thestep S213.

If judged in the step S220 that the value counted by the inserter thenumber of output sheets counter coincides with the number of inserterstorage-scheduled sheets, it is considered that the sheets of thepredetermined number are output to one stacking bin, and the flowadvances to a step S224 shown in FIG. 26. Namely, it is considered thatoutput of the sheaf of the sheets of one copy ended, and the flowadvances to the step S224 to stop the printing operation and wait forthe depression of the start key 614. If the start key 614 is depressed,the flow advances to a step S225 to judge whether or not the sheetexists in the current sheet discharge bin. If judged that the sheetexists in the current sheet discharge bin, it is considered that thesheet remains in the current sheet discharge bin, and the flow advancesto a step S226 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bindesignation counter by “1”. Then, the flow advances to a step S228 toclear and set the inserter the number of output sheets counter to “0”,the flow advances to a step S229 to clear and set the sheet dischargebin the number of storage sheets counter to “0”, and the flow returns tothe step S213, Conversely, if judged in the step S225 that the sheetdoes not exist in the current sheet discharge bin, it is considered thata sheet can be discharged to the current sheet discharge bin, the flowadvances to a step S227 to clear and set the sheet discharge bindesignation counter to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S213through the steps S228 and S229.

If judged in the step S219 that the job ends, the flow advances to astep S230 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to thestep S181.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the executionof the insert output mode is temporarily stopped every time theoutputting of one of the output copies set according to the informationrepresenting the kind of inserter ends, and then the execution of theinsert output mode is restarted according to the depression of the startkey. Thus, the sheets constituting the sheaf of one copy next to thesheaf of the sheets of one copy do not confuse, whereby the sheaf of thesheets of one copy to be set to the inserter can surely be captured ortaken from the stacking bin. As a result, the setting of the sheaf ofthe sheets of one copy to the inserter can be surely performed withoutany error. Further, in either the S mode or the F mode, since theexecution of the insert output mode is temporarily stopped similarly,the setting of the sheaf of the sheets of one copy output in the S or Fmode to the inserter can be surely performed without any error.

[Eighth Embodiment]

Next, the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 27A, 27B, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34. FIGS.27A and 27B are diagrams showing an example of the problem as to thesheet discharge form, FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of thesheet discharge form in the image formation apparatus according to theeighth embodiment, FIGS. 29 and 30 are flow charts showing the procedureof the insert output mode in the image forming apparatus according tothe eighth embodiment, FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing the printingoperation in the S mode in the step S254 of FIG. 30, FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the printing operation in the F mode in the step S255 ofFIG. 30, and FIGS. 33 and 34 are flow charts showing the printingoperation in the F mode in the step S258 of FIG. 30.

The present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in thepoint that, in the F mode, the sheets output as the insert sheets aresorted and output to each stacking bin 31 of the bin unit 5 for eachcopy.

In the F mode that the sheets to be output as the insert sheets aresorted and output to each stacking bin 31 of the bin unit 5 in the orderof the number of copies, as shown in FIG. 27A, the sheaf of the sheetsof the first copy and then the sheaf of the sheets of the next copy aresequentially discharged to the first stacking bin (bin #1). In thiscase, when the total number of stacked sheets does not reach the numberof sheets storable in the bin #1 yet, discharge of the sheaf of thesheets of the next copy is started. Then, if the total number of stackedsheets reaches the number of sheets storable in the bin #1 while thesheaf of these sheets is being discharged, the next bin #2 is designatedas the sheet discharge destination, and the partial (i.e., remaining)sheets in this sheaf are discharged to this bin #2. Namely, with respectto one sheaf, the sheets constituting this sheaf are separatelydischarged to the different sheet discharge bins. In such the case, whenthe sheaves of the sheets of the plural copies are set to the inserter,it is necessary to gather up the sheets separately discharged in thedifferent bins to make the sheaf, thereby resulting in inconvenience.Further, there is some fear that the sheaf is set to the inserter in thestate that the sheets of this sheaf are being erroneously separated.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, in order to prevent that thesheets constituting one sheaf are separately stacked in the differentstacking bins, the number (Sb) of copies of the sheaves storable in onestacking bin 31 is calculated based on the number (Sa) of the sheetsstorable in one stacking bin 31 and the number (Sx) of sheets in thesheaf of one copy, in accordance with the following expression (1).

Sb=Sa/Sx  (1)

where the value Sb is assumed to be the maximum integer value of thequotient obtained from the above expression (1).

Then, on the basis of the number (Sb) of copies of the sheaves storablein one stacking bin, the number (Ss) of sheets actually storable in thestacking bin is calculated in accordance with the following expression(2), and the obtained value Ss is set as the number of storage-scheduledsheets.

Ss=Sx×Sb  (2)

When the number of sheets discharged to the stacking bin reaches thenumber (Ss) of storage-scheduled sheets, the stacking bin is changed tothe next stacking bin. Thus, the sheets constituting one sheaf are notseparately stacked in the different stacking bins, whereby the sheets tobe output as the insert sheets can be sorted and output to each stackingbin 31 of the bin unit 5 in the unit of the number of copies. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 27B, the sheaf of the sheets of first one copy isdischarged to the bin #1, and then the sheaf of the sheets of next onecopy is discharged to the bin #2. In this case, if the number of sheetsof the sheaves of two copies has been set as the number ofstorage-scheduled sheets, the next bin #2 is designated as the sheetdischarge destination, and the sheets of the sheaf of next copy aredischarged to this bin #2. As a result, the sheets are discharged toeach stacking bin 31 of the bin unit 5 in the unit of sheaf. Thus, asshown in FIG. 28, when the sheaves of the sheets of the plural copiesrespectively output to the different stacking bins are set to theinserter, it is unnecessary to gather up these sheets separatelydischarged in the different bins to make the sheaf, whereby it ispossible to set the sheaf of the sheets stacked in each bin to theinserter as it is.

In the insert output mode according to the present embodiment, as shownin FIG. 29, it is first judged in a step S241 whether or not the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S242 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the number of output copies according to the kind ofinserter is set. Then, the flow advances to a step S243 to set the Smode or the F mode in the insert output mode according as either thesoftware key 640 or 641 is depressed, whereby the insert output mode isset.

Next, the flow advances to a step S244 to wait for the depression of thestart key 614. Conversely, if judged in the step S241 that the insertsheet making mode key 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over thesteps S242 and S243 and advances to the step S244 to wait for thedepression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S245 tojudge whether or not the color original discrimination mode is set.Here, the color original discrimination mode is to discriminate whetherthe original is a color original. If judged that the color originaldiscrimination mode is not set, the apparatus is considered to performan ordinary copying operation, and the flow advances to a step S248. Inthis step, the original p is carried one by one in due order from theoriginal stacking tray 50 to the original mounting board glass 78, andthe carried original is read. In a next step S249, the image of the readoriginal is stored in a memory. Then, it is judged in a step S250whether or not the image forming of the last original ends. If judgedthat the image forming of the last original does not end, the flowreturns to the step S245 to read the next original. Conversely, ifjudged that the image forming of the last original ends, the flowadvances to a step S251 shown in FIG. 30.

Conversely, if judged in the step S245 that the color originaldiscrimination mode is set, the flow advances to a step S246 to startfeeding the original from the ADF 51 and perform original prereading.The original prereading is to judge in response to the output from theoriginal discrimination sensor provided on the ADF 51 whether or not thefed original is the color original. If judged in a next step S247 thatthe fed original is the color original, this original is considered tobe read, and the flow advances to the step S248 to read the image ofthis original and store it in the memory in the next step S249. Then,the flow advances to the step S250 to judge whether or not the readingof the last original ends. If judged that the reading of the lastoriginal does not end, the flow returns to the step S245 to perform thefeed of the next original and the color original discrimination.

If judged in the step S247 that the fed original is not the colororiginal, the flow skips over the steps S246 and S247 and advances tothe step S250. Namely, the original which was judged to be not the colororiginal is not subjected to the reading and is directly discharged asit is. After the reading of the last original ended, the flow advancesto the step S251 shown in FIG. 30.

It is judged in the step S251 whether or not the insert output mode isselected. If judged that the insert output mode is not selected, theflow advances to a step S259 to sequentially read the images stored inthe memory, perform the image forming on the sheets, and output thesesheets to the bin unit 5. Then, in a step S260, it is judged whether ornot the job ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow returnsto the step S259. Conversely, if judged that the job ends, the flowreturns to the step S241.

If judged in the step S251 that the insert output mode is set, the flowadvances to a step S252 to judge whether or not the number of sheetsstorable in one sheet feed stage of the inserter is larger than thenumber of sheets storable in one stacking bin (sheet discharge tray). Ifjudged that the number of sheets storable in one sheet feed stage of theinserter is equal to or smaller than the number of sheets storable inone stacking bin, the flow advances to a step S253 to judge whether ornot the S mode is set. If judged that the S mode is set, the flowadvances to a step S254 to perform the printing operation in the S mode.Conversely, if judged that the S mode is not set, it is considered thatthe F mode is being set, and the flow advances to a step S253 to performthe printing operation in the F mode.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S252 that the number of sheetsstorable in one sheet feed stage of the inserter is larger than thenumber of sheets storable in one stacking bin, the flow advances to astep S256 to judge whether or not the S mode is set. If judged that theS mode is set, the flow advances to a step S257 to perform the printingoperation in the S mode. Conversely, if judged that the S mode is notset, it is considered that the F mode is being set, and the flowadvances to a step S258 to perform the printing operation in the F mode.

In the printing operation of the S mode in the step S254, as shown inFIG. 31, in a step S301, the original counter, the sheet discharge bindesignation counter and the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter (i.e., the counter for counting the number of sheetsstored in the sheet discharge bin) are all cleared and set to “0”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S302 to perform increment of theoriginal counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S304 to performthe image printing for the original of the ordinal number correspondingto the value counted by the original counter Then, the flow advances toa step S305 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin the numberof storage sheets counter by “1”. Next, the flow advances to a step S306to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheet discharge bin thenumber of storage sheets counter coincides with the set numeral (i.e.,the number of output copies determined according to the kind of inserterset in the step S242). If judged that the counted value does notcoincide with the set numeral, the flow returns to the step S304.Conversely, if judged that the counted value coincides with the setnumeral, the flow advances to a step S307 to judge whether or not thejob ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow advances to astep S309 to clear and set the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter to “0”, and further advances to a step S310 to performincrement of the sheet discharge bin designation counter by “1”. Then,the flow returns to the step S302 to perform increment of the originalcounter by “1”, and the printing operation of the next original image iscontinued.

If judged in the step S307 that the job ends, the flow advances to astep S308 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to thestep S241.

In the printing operation of the F mode in the step S255, as shown inFIG. 32, in a step S311, the original counter, the sheet discharge bindesignation counter and the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter are all cleared and set to “0”. In a next step S312, thenumber of storage-scheduled sheets in the sheet discharge bin iscalculated. It should be noted that the method for calculating thenumber of storage-scheduled sheets is the same as that described above.

Next, the flow advances to a step S313 to perform increment of theoriginal counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S314 to performthe image printing. Then, the flow advances to a step S315 to performincrement of the sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheetscounter by “1”, and further advances to a step S316 to judge whether ornot the job ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow advancesto a step S317 to judge whether or not the value counted by the sheetdischarge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincides with thenumber of storage-scheduled sheets in the sheet discharge bin. If judgedthat the value counted by the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter does not coincide with the number of storage-scheduledsheets in the sheet discharge bin, the flow advances to a step S320 tojudge whether or not the counted value of the original counter coincideswith the number of read originals. If judged that the counted value doesnot coincide with the number of read originals, the flow returns to thestep S313 to perform the printing operation for the next original.Conversely, if judged that the counted value coincides with the numberof read originals, the flow advances to a step S321 to clear and set theoriginal counter to “0”. Then, the flow returns to the step S313 toperform the printing operation for the next sheaf of the sheets.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S317 that the value counted bythe sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter coincideswith the number of storage-scheduled sheets in the sheet discharge bin,it is considered that the sheets of the next sheaf can not be stacked onthe current stacking bin, and the flow advances to a step S318 toperform increment of the sheet discharge bin designation counter by “1”.Then, the flow advances to a step S319 to clear and set the sheetdischarge bin the number of storage sheets counter to “0”, and furtheradvances to the step S320 to judge whether or not the counted value ofthe original counter coincides with the number of read originals. Inthis case, the value counted by the sheet discharge bin the number ofstorage sheets counter coincides with the number of storage-scheduledsheets in the sheet discharge bin, whereby the counted value of theoriginal counter coincides with the number of read originals. Then, theflow advances to the step S321 to clear and set the original counter to“0”. The flow returns to the step S313 to perform the printing operationfor the next sheaf of the sheets.

If judged in step S316 that the job ends, the flow advances to a stepS322 to clear the insert output mode, and the flow returns to the stepS241.

The procedure of the printing operation of the S mode in the step S257is the same as that shown in the flow chart of FIG. 20, whereby theexplanation thereof will be omitted.

In the printing operation of the F mode in the step S258, as shown inFIG. 33, in a step S351, the original counter, the sheet discharge bindesignation counter, the sheet discharge bin the number of storagesheets counter and the inserter the number of output sheets counter(i.e., the counter for counting the number of sheets output to theinserter) are all cleared and set to “0”. In a next step S352, thenumber of sheaves of sheets storable in the sheet discharge bin (thenumber of sheet discharge bin storage-scheduled sheets) is calculatedaccording the above expressions (1) and (2), and in a next step S353,the number of inserter storage-scheduled sheets is calculated.

In this step, the number (Ib) of sheaves of copies storable in one sheetfeed bin of the inserter is calculated based on the number (Ia) ofsheets storable in this sheet feed bin and the number (Sx) of sheets inthe sheaf of one copy, in accordance with the following expression (3).

Ib=Ia/Sx  (3)

where the value Ib is assumed to be the maximum integer value of thesolution obtained from the above expression (3). Then, on the basis ofthe number (Ib) of sheaves of copies storable in one sheet feed bin, thenumber (Is) of sheets actually storable in the sheet feed bin iscalculated in accordance with the following expression (4), and theobtained value Is is set as the number of inserter storage-scheduledsheets

Is=Sx×Ib  (4)

Next, the flow advances to a step S354 to perform increment of theoriginal counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S355 to performthe image printing for the original of the ordinal number correspondingto the value counted by the original counter. Then, the flow advances toa step S356 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin the numberof storage sheets counter by “1”, and further advances to a step S357 toperform increment of the inserter the number of output sheets counter by“1”.

Next, the flow advances to a step S358 to judge whether or not the jobends in the inset output mode. If judged that the job ends, the flowadvances to a step S367 to clear the insert output mode, and the flowreturns to the step S241. Conversely, if judged that the job does notend, the flow advances to a step S359 shown in FIG. 34 to judge whetheror not the value counted by the sheet discharge bin the number ofstorage sheets counter coincides with the number of sheet discharge binstorage-scheduled (or storable) sheets. If judged that the counted valuecoincides with the number of sheet discharge bin storage scheduledsheets, it is considered that the sheaves of the sheets of the pluralcopies are being stacked in the current stacking bin and thus the sheafafter these stacked sheaves can not be stacked any more, and thus theflow advances to a step S364 to clear and set the sheet discharge binthe number of storage sheets counter to “0”, and further advances to astep S365 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin designationcounter by “1”. Further, the flow advances to a step S366 to clear andset the original counter to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S354to continue the image printing for the original of the ordinal numbercorresponding to the value counted by the original counter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S359 that the value counted bythe sheet discharge bin the number of storage sheets counter does notcoincide with the number of sheet discharge bin storage-scheduledsheets, the flow advances to a step S360 to judge whether or not thevalue counted by the inserter the number of output sheets countercoincides with the number of inserter storage-scheduled sheets. Ifjudged that the counted value coincides with the number of inserterstorage-scheduled sheets, the flow advances to a step S363 to clear andset the inserter the number of output sheets counter to “0”. Then, theflow advances to the step S364 to clear and set the sheet discharge binthe number of storage sheets counter to “0”, and further advances to thestep S365 to perform increment of the sheet discharge bin designationcounter by “1”. Further, the flow advances to the step S366 to clear andset the original counter to “0”, and the flow returns to the step S354to continue the image printing for the original of the ordinal numbercorresponding to the value counted by the original counter.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S360 that the value counted bythe inserter the number of output sheets counter does not coincide withthe number of inserter storage-scheduled sheets, the flow advances to astep S361 to judge whether or not the value counted by the originalcounter coincides with the number of originals. If judged that thecounted value coincides with the number of originals, the flow advancesto a step S362 to clear and set the original counter to “0”, and theflow returns to the step S354.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the sheets tobe output as the insert sheets in the F mode are sorted and output toeach stacking bin 31 of the bin unit 5 for each copy (or in the unit ofthe number of copies). Thus, the sheets constituting one sheaf in the Fmode are not separately stacked in the different stacking bins, wherebythe sheaves of sheets output in the F mode can be surely and correctlyset to the inserter.

[Ninth Embodiment]

Next, the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 35A, 35B, 35C, 36 and 37. FIGS. 35A to 35C arediagrams showing an example that a head mark is affixed in the insertoutput mode in the image forming apparatus according to the ninthembodiment, and FIGS. 36 and 37 are flow charts showing the procedure ofthe insert output mode in the image forming apparatus according to theninth embodiment.

The present embodiment is different from the sixth embodiment in thepoint that a head mark is affixed to an area (i.e., margin area) outsidethe image forming area of the sheet corresponding to the first page ofthe sheets to be output as the insert sheets in the insert output mode.

Concretely, as shown in FIG. 35A, if three originals p1 to p3 aresequentially read in the insert output mode, the images of the originalsp1 to p3 are stored in a memory in the reading order. At this time, headmark data (or head image mark data) is affixed to a predeterminedposition in the area outside the original image area for the image ofthe read original p1 (i.e., the top of the image in this case), and theimage data and the affixed mark data are together stored in the memory.This head mark data is the data prestored in the memory. Then, after thereading of the last original p3 ended, the image corresponding to thelast page (i.e., the image of the original p3) is read from the memory,the read image is formed on a sheet, and this sheet is output to thestacking bin 31 determined in the set mode (the S or F mode). Next, theimage corresponding to the previous page of the last page (i.e., theimage of the original p2) is read, the read image is formed on a sheet,and the sheet on which this read image was formed is put on the sheet ofthe last page on the stacking bin 31. Next, the image corresponding tothe first page (i.e., the image of the original p1) is read, the readimage is formed on a sheet, and this sheet is put uppermost on the sheafof the sheets on the stacking bin 31. Since the head mark data has beenaffixed to the image data corresponding to the first page (first page),an image (i.e., a mark “▪”) represented by the head mark data is affixedto the area corresponding to the margin of a sheet S′1 (i.e., the areaoutside the original image forming area of the sheet S′1) as shown inFIG. 35B. Of course, the image represented by the head mark data is notaffixed to sheets S′2 and S′3 corresponding to other pages.

Thus, the sheet corresponding to the first page includes the imagerepresenting that this sheet corresponds to the first page, whereby thefirst-page sheet can be well discriminated in the sheaf of sheets outputin the S or F mode. Thus, when the sheaf of sheets is set to theinserter, this sheaf can be set on the basis of the discriminablefirst-page sheet, whereby the user can set the sheets withoutmisarrangement in the page order.

Further, the above explanation is directed to the case where the headmark data is affixed to the position corresponding to the top of thesheet in the image data. However, as shown in FIG. 35C, the position ofthe head mark data and the number thereof can be changed. In this case,it is preferable to change the position and the number of the head markdata on the basis of the information representing the kind of inserter.For example, in a case where an insert sheet is set to the inserter onthe basis of the trailing edge of this sheet, the head mark can beaffixed to the trailing edge (i.e., the bottom) of the sheet of thefirst page. Thus, it is possible to affix the head mark to the positionsuitable for a form that the insert sheet is set to the inserter.Further, it is possible to affix the head mark to the back face of thesheet, instead of the front face (i.e., the image forming face) of thesheet.

Next, the insert output mode in the present embodiment will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 36 and 37.

In FIG. 36, it is first judged in a step S371 whether or not the insertsheet making mode key 642 is depressed. If judged that the key 642 isdepressed, the flow advances to a step S372 to select the kind ofinserter according as any one of the one-bin inserter key 643, thethree-bin inserter key 644 and the five-bin inserter key 645 isdepressed, whereby the number of output copies according to the kind ofinserter is set. Then, the flow advances to a step S373 to set the Smode or the F mode in the insert output mode according as either thesoftware key 640 or 641 is depressed, whereby the insert output mode isset.

Next, the flow advances to a step S374 to wait for the depression of thestart key 614. Conversely, if judged in the step S371 that the insertsheet making mode key 642 is not depressed, the flow skips over thesteps S372 and S373 and advances to the step S374 to wait for thedepression of the start key 614.

If the start key 614 is depressed, the flow advances to a step S375 toclear and set the original counter to “0”, and further advances to astep S376 to judge whether or not the color original discrimination modeis set to read only the color original. If judged that the colororiginal discrimination mode is not set, the apparatus is considered toperform an ordinary copying operation, and the flow advances to a stepS379. In this step, the original p is carried one by one in due orderfrom the original stacking tray 50 to the original mounting board glass78, and the carried original is read. In a next step S380 shown in FIG.37, it is judged whether or not the insert output mode is selected.Since the insert output mode is not set in this case, the flow advancesto a step S384 to store the image of the read original in a memory, andfurther advances to a step S385 to perform increment of the originalcounter by “1”. Then, it is judged in a step S386 whether or not theimage forming of the last original ends. If judged that the imageforming of the last original does not end, the flow returns to the stepS376 to read the next original. After the reading of the last originalended, the flow advances to the step S387.

On the other hand, if judged in the step S376 that the color originaldiscrimination mode to read only the color original is set, the flowadvances to a step S377 to start feeding the original from the ADF 51and perform original prereading to judge whether or not the fed originalis a color original. On the basis of the result of the originalprereading, if judged in a step S378 that the fed original is the colororiginal, the flow advances to the step S379 to read the image of thisoriginal. Then, the flow advances to the step S380 in FIG. 37 to judgewhether or not the insert output mode is selected. If judged that theinsert output mode is selected, the flow advances to a step S381 tojudge whether or not the image size is smaller than the sheet size. Ifjudged that the image size is smaller than the sheet size, the flowadvances to a step S382 to judge whether or not the count value of theoriginal counter is on. If judged that the count value of the originalcounter is “0”, this original is considered to be the originalcorresponding to the first page, and the flow advances to a step S383 toaffix the head mark data to the image data. In the next step S384, theimage data added with the head mark data is stored in the memory, andthe flow advances to the step S385 to perform the increment of theoriginal counter by “1”. Then, it is judged in the step S386 whether ornot the image forming of the last original ends. If judged that theimage forming of the last original does not end, the flow returns to thestep S376 to judge whether or not the color original discrimination modeis set.

If judged in the step S381 that the image size is not smaller than thesheet size, it is considered that the head data mark can not be affixedto the margin area, and the flow skips over the steps S382 and S383 andadvances to the step S384. Further, if judged in the step S382 that thecount value of the original counter is not “0”, it is considered thatthe original is not the original corresponding to the first page, andthe flow skips over the step S383 and advances to the step s384.

If judged in the step S378 that the original is not the color original,the flow skips over the steps S379 to S385 and advances to the stepS386. Namely, the original judged to be not the color original is notsubjected to the reading but is discharge as it is. After the reading ofthe last original ended, the flow advances to a step S387.

It is judged in the step S387 whether or not the insert output mode isselected. If judged that the insert output mode is not selected, theflow advances to a step S389 to sequentially read the images stored inthe memory, perform the image forming on the sheets, and output thesesheets to the bin unit 5. Then, in a step S390, it is judged whether ornot the job ends. If judged that the job does not end, the flow returnsto the step S389. Conversely, if judged in the step S390 that the jobends, the flow returns to the step S371.

If judged in the step S387 that the insert output mode is set, the flowadvances to a step S388 to judge whether or not the S mode is set. Ifjudged that the S mode is set, the printing operation in the S mode isperformed. Here, since the printing operation in the S mode is the sameas the printing operation shown in the flow chart of FIG. 20, theexplanation of this operation will be omitted. Conversely, if judged inthe step S388 that the S mode is not set, i.e., the F mode is set, theprinting operation in the F mode is performed. Here, since the printingoperation in the F mode is the same as the printing operation shown inthe flow chart of FIG. 21, the explanation of this operation will beomitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the headmark data is affixed to the margin area of the sheet, it is possible toavoid that it becomes difficult to distinguish the head mark on thesheet because the original image and the head mark overlap each other.

It is needless to say that the objects of the present invention can beachieved as well by supplying storage media recording program codes(including program codes to perform the processes in the above-describedflow charts) of software for realizing the functions of theabove-described first to ninth embodiments to a system or an apparatus,and by the system or a computer (a CPU or an MPU) of the apparatusreading and executing the program codes stored in storage media.

In this case, the program codes themselves read from the storage mediarealize the functions of the above-described embodiments, and thus thestorage media storing the program codes constitute the presentinvention.

As the storage media for supplying the program codes, e.g., a floppydisk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, aCD-R, a DVD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM andthe like can be used.

Further, it is needless to say that the functions of the above-describedembodiments are realized not only by executing a program code read by acomputer, but also by a process that is actually performed in part orentirely by an OS (operating system) and the like operating on thecomputer based on the instruction of the program code.

Further, it is needless to say that the functions of the above-describedembodiments are realized by a process that is actually performed in partor entirely by a CPU and the like provided in a function extension boardor a function extension unit based on a instruction of the program codeafter the program code is read from the storage media and written in amemory provided in the function extension board inserted in the computeror the function extension unit connected to the computer.

In the above-described first to ninth embodiments, in the image formingapparatus 1000 which has the color image forming unit capable of formingthe color image on the sheet, when the insert output mode is beingselected, it is controlled to perform the printing only for the colorpages of the originals mixedly including the color and B/W originals butnot to perform the printing for the B/W pages. Besides, as anotherembodiment, the present invention is applicable to a case where, in theimage forming apparatus which has the B/W image forming unit capable offorming the B/W image on the sheet, when the insert output mode is beingselected, it is controlled to perform the printing only for the B/Wpages of the originals mixedly including the color and B/W originals andto inhibit the printing for the color originals. Thus, for example, inorder to make the insert sheet which should be set to the insert bin ofthe color image forming apparatus having the inserter, the informationconcerning the inserter of this color image forming apparatus, the setnumber of copies, and the like are input at the operation unit of theB/W image forming apparatus which should execute the insert output mode.Then, it is controlled to cause the B/W image forming apparatus whichreceived the information, the set number and the like to perform theprinting only for the B/W pages of the originals mixedly including thecolor and B/W originals and to inhibit the printing for the colororiginals. Further, it is controlled to output the plural (but one kindof) insert sheets on the basis of the information transmitted from theoperation unit, and to sort the output insert sheets in the S mode or Fmode and then store the sorted insert sheets in the sheet dischargeunit.

Then, it causes the user to carry the sheaf of the sheet from theoriginal tray of the B/W image forming apparatus to the original tray ofthe color image forming apparatus, set the insert sheet the insertsheets output by the B/W image forming apparatus to the inserter bin ofthe color image forming apparatus, set the insert process, and depressthe start key to perform the insert process. By doing so, it is possibleto obtain the same effect as that obtained in the above-describedembodiments.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, it was chiefly explainedthe example that the sheaf of the originals which mixedly include theoriginals on which color images were formed respectively and theoriginals on which B/W images were formed respectively is output in theinsert output mode. However, the present invention is not limited tothis. Namely, the present invention is applicable to a case where, whena sheaf of originals mixedly including photograph originals and textoriginals is output in the insert output mode, e.g., it is controlled toperform printing for the pages corresponding to the photograph originalsin that sheaf and not to perform printing for the pages corresponding tothe text originals. Thus, the above-described embodiments areparticularly efficient in the case where the sheaf of originals to beoutput in the insert output mode is the sheaf mixedly includingdifferent-type originals.

As explained above, according to the embodiments of the presentinvention, it is first judged whether the original is the color originalor the B/W original, the printing is performed to only one of the colorand B/W originals on the basis of the judged result. In this structure,the insert output mode that either one of the color and B/W originals isdesignated and the sheet on which the image of the designated originalwas formed is output to the inserter as the insert sheet is set, and theset insert mode is executed, whereby it is possible to obtain the outputof the insert sheet suitable for the inserter without delay.

Further, when the insert mode that the color original has beendesignated is set, it is controlled to perform the printing only for thecolor original. Conversely, when the insert mode that the B/W originalhas been designated is set, it is controlled to perform the printingonly for the B/W original.

Further, the information representing the kind of inserter is input, thenumber of output copies of the sheets is set according to the inputinformation, whereby it is possible to output the insert sheets of thenumber of copies suitable for the inserter.

Further, the outputs being the insert sheets obtained in the insertoutput mode are discharged per copy to the sheet discharge unit inaccordance with the set mode, whereby it is possible to facilitatehandling of the sheaf of insert sheets.

Further, the insert output mode includes a first sheet discharge mode tosort and output the recording sheets obtained as the insert sheets tothe respective bins of the sheet discharge unit in the order of page,and a second sheet discharge mode to sort and output the recordingsheets obtained as the insert sheets to the respective bins of the sheetdischarge unit in the order of the number of copies. Thus, either one ofthe first and second sheet discharge modes is selectively executed onthe basis of the set information and the like transferred from theoperation unit, whereby it is possible to obtain the output of theinsert sheets suitable for the inserter without delay.

Further, the mode that the inserter kind information is input, thenumber of output copies of sheets is set according to the input inserterkind information, and the sheets of the set number of output copies areoutput is set. Thus, it is possible to output the insert sheets of theset number of copies suitable for the inserter.

Further, inserter kind information includes the number of inserter traysinformation which represents the number of trays of this inserter. Thus,it is judged whether or not the first sheet discharge mode can beexecuted based on the number of originals on which the images should beformed as the insert sheets in the sheaf of originals and the number ofinserter trays information. If judged that the first sheet dischargemode can not be executed, the second sheet discharge mode is set. Thus,it is possible to prevent beforehand that the sheets of different pagesare erroneously stacked to the bin to which the sheets of the same pageshould be essentially stacked in the first sheet discharge mode.

Further, in the case where the first sheet discharge mode can beexecuted, it is judged whether or not both the first and second sheetdischarge modes can be executed. If judged that both the first andsecond sheet discharge modes can be executed, it is possible topreferentially set the second sheet discharge mode Further, in the casewhere the first sheet discharge mode can be executed, it is judgedwhether or not both the first and second sheet discharge modes can beexecuted, and if judged that both the first and second sheet dischargemodes can be executed, it is possible to preferentially set the firstsheet discharge mode. Further, in the case where the first sheetdischarge mode can be executed, it is possible to automatically selectand set either one of the first and second sheet discharge modes.

Further, the mark image to be affixed to the sheet is stored beforehandin the memory, and then the stored mark image is printed on the sheetcorresponding to the first page of the series of insert sheets in thesheaf output in the insert output mode, whereby the first sheet can beeasily discriminated. Thus, it is possible to diminish erroneous sheetsetting to the inserter as much as possible.

Further, it is possible to synthesize the mark image stored in thememory and the image on the original corresponding to the first page ofthe sheaf of insert sheets, and form the synthesized image on the sheetcorresponding to the first page. Further, it is possible to affix themark image at least to one part on the sheet corresponding to the firstpage, to make the part to which the mark image should be affixed and thenumber of such the parts changeable according to the inserter kindinformation, and to affix the mark image to the margin area of thesheet.

Further, there is provided the process to temporarily stop the executionof the insert output mode every time the sheets the number of whichcorresponds to the number of one of the set number of output copies areoutput. Thus, for example, when the sheets are set to the sheetdischarge bin of the inserter in the unit of sheaf, it is unnecessary toset the plural sheaves into one sheaf. Further, it is prevent toerroneously sort the sheaves of sheets.

The second sheet discharge mode is the mode to sort and output thesheets obtained as the insert sheets to the respective bins of the sheetdischarge unit in the unit of the number of copies. Therefore, in thissecond sheet discharge mode, the sheets constituting the sheaf of sheetsof one copy are never stacked separately in the different bins, and thusit is possible to surely perform the setting of the sheaf of outputsheets of one copy to the inserter without any error.

According to the image forming method of the present invention, thereare provided the step of setting the insert output mode, the step ofdiscriminating the original designated as the original to be readaccording to the content of the set insert output mode, the step ofreading the original designated based on the discriminated result, thestep of forming the image of the read original on the sheet, and thestep of outputting as the insert sheet the sheet on which the image wasformed. Thus, it is possible to obtain the output of the insert sheetssuitable for the inserter without delay.

Further, there are provided the step of inputting the inserter kindinformation, and the step of setting the number of the output copies ofthe sheets in accordance with the inserter kind information. Thus, it ispossible to output the insert sheets of the number of copies suitablefor the inserter.

Further, the sheets output as the insert sheets are discharged for eachcopy to the sheet stacking means, whereby it is possible to facilitatehandling of the sheaf of insert sheets output on the sheet stackingmeans.

Although the present invention has been explained with reference to theabove-described preferred embodiments, the present invention is notlimited to them. Namely, it is obvious that various modifications andchanges are possible in the present invention without departing from thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a readerfor reading an original; an image forming unit for forming an image of aread image on a sheet; a stacker having plural receptacles on whichsheets from said image forming unit are stacked; and a controller forexecuting an insert output mode to output the sheet on which the imageof the read original was formed, as an insert sheet to be set to aninserter, wherein the insert output mode includes a first sheetdischarge mode to discharge insert sheets which correspond to a samepage to a same receptacle of said stacker, and a second sheet dischargemode to discharge insert sheets which correspond to a unit of copy to asame receptacle of said stacker, wherein said controller executes one ofthe first sheet discharge mode and the second sheet discharge mode whenexecuting the insert output mode.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising an operation panel for inputting inserter kindinformation representing a kind of inserter, wherein said controllerdiscriminates the number of output copies of the sheets according to theinserter kind information input from said operation panel.
 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the insert output mode includesa process to temporarily stop the execution of the insert output modeevery time sheets of the number corresponding to one of a set number ofoutput copies are output.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe second sheet discharge mode is the mode to sort and output sheetsobtained as the insert sheets to the respective receptacles of saidstacker in the unit of the number of copies.
 5. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising an original discriminator fordiscriminating whether the original is a color original or a B/W(black-and-white) original, wherein said reader reads either one of thecolor and B/W originals on the basis of the discrimination result ofsaid original discriminator, and the insert output mode is the mode setwhen either one of the color and B/W originals is read by said reader, aread image is formed on the sheet by said image forming unit, and thesheet on which the image was formed is output as the insert sheet.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insert output mode is themode that only the color original is read by said image forming unit asthe insert sheet.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinsert output mode is the mode that only the B/W original is formed bysaid image forming unit as the insert sheet.
 8. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising an operation panel for inputting inserterkind information representing a kind of inserter, wherein saidcontroller judges whether or not the first sheet discharge mode can beexecuted, on the basis of the number of originals and the inserter kindinformation, and when said controller judges the first sheet dischargemode can not be executed, said controller sets the second sheetdischarge mode.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisingan operation panel for inputting inserter kind information representinga kind of inserter, wherein said controller judges whether or not boththe first and second sheet discharge modes can be executed, on the basisof the number of originals and the inserter kind information, and whensaid controller judges both the first and second sheet discharge modescan be executed, said controller preferentially sets the second sheetdischarge mode.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising an operation panel for inputting inserter kind informationrepresenting a kind of inserter, wherein said controller judges whetheror not both the first and second sheet discharge modes can be executed,on the basis of the number of originals and the inserter kindinformation, and when said controller judges both the first and secondsheet discharge modes can be executed, said controller preferentiallysets the first sheet discharge mode.
 11. An apparatus according to claim1, further comprising an operation panel for inputting inserter kindinformation representing a kind of inserter, wherein said controllerjudges whether or not the first sheet discharge mode can be executed, onthe basis of the number of originals and the inserter kind information,and when said controller judges the first sheet discharge mode can beexecuted, said controller automatically selects and sets either one ofthe first and second sheet discharge modes.
 12. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing a mark image to beformed to the sheet, wherein said image forming unit forms the markimage to the sheet corresponding to the first page in sheets output inthe insert output mode.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, whereinsaid image forming unit synthesizes the mark image stored in said memoryand the image on the original corresponding to the first page, and formsthe synthesized image on the sheet corresponding to the first page. 14.An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image forming unitforms the mark image to at least one part on the sheet corresponding tothe first page.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein saidimage forming unit makes the part to which the mark image should beformed and the number of the parts changeable in accordance with theinserter kind information.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 12,wherein said image forming unit forms the mark image to a margin area onthe sheet.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising anoperation panel for inputting one of the first sheet discharge mode andthe second sheet discharge mode.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising an operation panel for inputting a number of trays ofsaid inserter, wherein said controller judges whether or not the firstsheet discharge mode can be executed on the basis of a number oforiginals and a number of trays of said inserter.
 19. An image formingmethod which can execute an insert output mode that a sheet on which animage of an original was formed is output as an insert sheet to besupplied to an inserter, said method comprising: a step of setting theinsert output mode; a step of setting as a sheet discharge mode in theinsert output mode a first sheet discharge mode to discharge insertsheets which correspond to a same page to a same receptacle of astacker, and a second sheet discharge mode to discharge insert sheetswhich correspond to a unit of copy to a same receptacle of the stacker;a step of reading the original; a step of forming the image of the readoriginal on the sheet; and a step of outputting the sheet on which theimage was formed to the stacker in accordance with the set sheetdischarge mode in the insert output mode, wherein one of the first sheetdischarge mode and the second sheet discharge mode is executed when theinsert output mode is executed.
 20. A method according to claim 19,further comprising: a step of inputting inserter kind informationrepresenting a kind of inserter; and a step of discriminating the numberof output copies of the sheets in the insert output mode in accordancewith the inserter kind information input in said inputting step.
 21. Amethod according to claim 20, wherein, when the insert output mode isbeing set, only either one of a color original and a B/W(black-and-white) original in the original is read.
 22. A methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the second sheet discharge mode is themode to sort and output sheets obtained as the insert sheets torespective receptacles of the stacker in the unit of the number ofcopies.
 23. A method according to claim 19, further comprising: a stepof inputting inserter kind information representing a kind of inserter,by using an operation panel; a step of judging whether or not the firstsheet discharge mode can be executed, on the basis of the number oforiginals and the inserter kind information, and wherein, when saidjudging step judges that the first sheet discharge mode can not beexecuted, the second sheet discharge mode is set as the sheet dischargemode in the insert output mode.
 24. A method according to claim 19,further comprising: a step of inputting inserter kind informationrepresenting a kind of inserter, by using an operation panel; and a stepjudging whether or not both the first and second sheet discharge modescan be executed, on the basis of the number of originals and theinserter kind information, wherein, when said judging step judges thatboth the first and second sheet discharge modes can be executed, thesecond sheet discharge mode is preferentially set as the sheet dischargemode in the insert output mode.
 25. A method according to claim 19,further comprising: a step of inputting inserter kind informationrepresenting a kind of inserter, by using an operation panel; and a stepjudging whether or not both the first and second sheet discharge modescan be executed, on the basis of the number of originals and theinserter kind information wherein, when said judging step judges thatboth the first and second sheet discharge modes can be executed, thefirst sheet discharge mode is preferentially set as the sheet dischargemode in the insert output mode.
 26. A method according to claim 19,further comprising: a step of inputting inserter kind informationrepresenting a kind of inserter; and a step of judging whether or notthe first sheet discharge mode can be executed, on the basis of thenumber of originals and the inserter kind information, wherein, whensaid judging step judges that the first sheet discharge mode can beexecuted, either one of the first and second sheet discharge modes isautomatically selected and set.
 27. A method according to claim 19,further comprising a step of forming a mark image, to be stored in amemory, to the sheet corresponding to the first page in the sheetsoutput in the insert output mode.
 28. A method according to claim 27,wherein the mark image stored in the memory and the image on theoriginal corresponding to the first page are synthesized, and thesynthesized image is formed on the sheet corresponding to the firstpage.
 29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the mark image isformed to at least one part on the sheet corresponding to the firstpage.
 30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the part to which themark image should be formed and the number of the parts are madechangeable in accordance with inserter kind information.
 31. A methodaccording to claim 30, wherein the mark image is formed to a margin areaon the sheet.
 32. A method according to claim 19, further comprising astep of temporarily stopping the execution of the insert output modeevery time sheets of the number corresponding to one of a set number ofoutput copies are output.
 33. A method according to claim 19, furthercomprising a step of inputting one of the first sheet discharge mode andthe second sheet discharge mode, by using an operation panel.
 34. Amethod according to claim 19, further comprising: a step of inputting anumber of trays of the inserter; and a step of judging whether or notthe first sheet discharge mode can be executed, on the basis of thenumber of originals and the number of trays of the inserter.